In the death of Goa’s Padma Shri and noted educationist Suresh Gundu Amonkar our already intellectually impoverished State has lost one of the few remaining very inspiring and true Goenkars. I am myself now without a true friend who was always ever so candid. At 84 he was a tall and extremely affable personality and source of an insightful wealth of knowledge.
I recollect having first met Sir, Suresh Amonkar in 1972 when he was a heading the Jury at an inter-school elocution competition in Mapusa. I was participating at the age of 12 and bagged the First Prize. And every interaction with Sir, over the last decades was very so enrichingly enlightening and thought provoking.
Even at 80+ Sir Suresh Amonkar stood tall as ever, always extremely gregarious and showed no signs of slowing down. All this after having bravely and humbly battled that dreadful cancer for over a decade. Our dear Sir, braved it all.
Very realistically Sir Suresh Amonkar firmly believed that only very strong will power and courage can go a long way in battling cancer and that no one should maintain a veil of secrecy or shy away from any ailment including Cancer.
The very outspoken prolific writer and extremely knowledgeable Sir Suresh Amonkar always with a very broad outlook was a symbol of honesty, integrity and commitment. An intellectual and gentleman par excellence he always was. Sir, Suresh Amonkar has departed to be now reunited with his dear wife and soulmate Sudha who passed away a few years ago. Respected Sir, another Suresh Gundu Amonkar of your caliber we may never ever see, at least in my lifetime.
