Ramkrishna Naik, epitome of selfless service, no more | Goa News – Times of India
Margao: Ramkrishna Naik, who redefined social work with his selfless service as also brought about a renaissance in the Marathi theatre movement in Mumbai and Goa, breathed his last on Sunday following a brief illness. He was 96.
Naik, a resident of Comba, Margao, had made Sheha Mandir, an old-age home, his home for the last several years, an institute he had wholeheartedly nurtured since its inception.
Born on November 3, 1928, Naik migrated to Mumbai in early 1950s to pursue his career in chartered accountancy. Here, he was drawn to Goa Hindu Association, one of the oldest cultural and social welfare organizations, formed by a group of Hindu Goans in 1919. In 1956, when the Goa Hindu Association formed its Kala Vibhag (art department), it was Naik who effectively took over its reins and led it to the heights of glory. Kala Vibhag’s success came to be attributed largely to Naik’s astute ability to detect talent and identify the potentially finest plays. It’s said that it was Naik who drew Pt Jitendra Abhisheki to theatre art.
History has it that Abhisheki redefined sangeet natak with his inimitable style of rendering Hindustani classical vocals. Naik produced plays of veteran playwrights like Vasant Kanetkar, V V Shirvadkar, Jaywant Dalvi, and others through the Kala Vibhag which became an instant draw among theatre lovers.
Upon his return to Goa in the 1980s, Naik got associated with Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, and played a stellar role in nurturing the theater movement in Goa. His contribution to Goa Marathi Vidnyan Parishad and Samaj Seva Sanhh was also noteworthy.
Naik became instrumental in setting up the Sneha Mandir in Bandora, Ponda, founded by Goa Hindu Association and was actively involved in the activities of the old-age home until recently, which includes pioneering initiatives in geriatric care.
It was his principled stance to stay away from the limelight. He was of the firm conviction that to make an impactful contribution to society one should not only refrain from using financial resources for personal benefit but dedicate all of one’s possessions to the cause one has been wedded to.
Naik’s long-term associates describe Naik’s life as an epitome of total sacrifice. Perhaps that also explains how, despite his significant participation in Goa’s freedom struggle, Naik’s contribution never came to be recognized by the state, nor did he clamor for any recognition.
Naik’s mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Margao Hindu crematorium Sunday evening.
