José Matanhy de Saldanha

José Matanhy de Saldanha (

Matanhy had degrees in Science and Education.[3] He also obtained a master's degree in Arts (Political Science) from the Bombay University (now, University of Mumbai) in 1988.^[4]

Social activism

Besides being a teacher at the Don Bosco High School in

In the 1970s, Matanhy campaigned for the Ramponnkars,[5] (traditional fisherman of Goa) to prevent trawlers from fishing within 50 metres of the shore. He formed the Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (Association of Goa's Traditional Fisherfolk) and helped stop the discharge of effluents from the Zuari Agro Chemicals factory into the Arabian Sea, near Velsao. The pollution was killing fish, the staple food of Goans. His campaign was described as Goa's first successful movement against industrial pollution.^[6]

In the late 1970s, with Urbano Lobo and others, he campaigned against the destruction, for mining, of the

Saldanha was an active participant of the Goa Special Status movement and believed that Special Status to Goa was needed in order to preserve the state's unique culture and identity.^[11][12][13]

Political career

In the late 1970s, Matanhy established the "Gomantak Lok Poxx" party.^[14]

In the 2000, Matanhy was elected to the

Saldanha was disqualified by then Speaker of the Goa Legislature, Francisco Sardinha, in August 2005 upon a disqualification petition filed against him by Jitendra Deshprabhu, spokesperson of the Indian National Congress.^[21] However, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court set aside Matanhy's disqualification in 2011.^{[verification needed]}

Matanhy unsuccessfully contested the elections to the

In January 2012, Matanhy quit the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) due to UGDP forming an alliance with the Goa Vikas Party.^[23][24] He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party^[25] and contested as a BJP candidate from the Cortalim constituency in the 2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election.^[26]

After the BJP gained majority in the

After Matanhy died in harness, his widow Alina Saldanha contested by-elections from the Cortalim constituency as a BJP candidate and was elected unopposed to the Goa State Legislature.[29] She was later sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Parrikar government.^[30] Alina Saldanha holds the portfolios of Museums, Environment and Forests.^[31]

Death and burial

After attending the