List of Famous Personalities of Goa

Goa is a place that has given birth to many great and inspirational personalities of India. Goa’s people (who are called Goans), culture, history, and contributions are worth examining. Many people from Goa have worked towards the upliftment of their state and the country as a whole. The personalities that have been listed below have not only made Goans proud but have made their mark worldwide.

This article delves into some of the famous personalities of Goa.

Jitendra Abhisheki (1929 – 1998)

Jitendra Abhisheki, popularly known as Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, was born in the Mangeshi district of Goa. His name by birth was Ganesh Ralavant Nawathe. He was a vocalist, music composer, and music teacher who made a massive impact on the history of classical music and the Marathi music industry.  An event called Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav, which is named after him, is celebrated in Goa every year, around September or October.

Shounak Abhisheki (1970 – present)

Shounak Abhisheki is a young musician, vocalist, and composer, who is the son and student of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki. He represents India in classical music and other forms of Indian music, and has performed in numerous concerts in Goa, India, and around the world. Shounak Abhisheki performs a perfect blend of Jaipuri and Agra styles of musical forms, which is his own creation. He works to provide education to young and talented underprivileged Indians and also donates pensions to aged classical musicians.

Lata Mangeshkar (1929 – 2022)

Lata Mangeshkar has made immense contributions to Indian cinema, also called Bollywood. She worked as a playback singer and sang more than 50,000 songs throughout her career, which is a record-breaking feat. She also dedicated her time to social issues, mainly for the upliftment of underprivileged people. Lata Mangeshkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001, the Padma Vibhushan in 1969, and many other awards.

Asha Bhosle (1933 – present)

Asha Bhosle is an Indian playback singer and the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar. She is widely known as a versatile female singer and is peerless in voice modulation. She has significantly contributed to the Indian music industry and has recorded songs in more than twenty languages.

Chris Perry (1928 – 2002)

Chris Perry’s real name is Christovam Pereira. He was a musician, trumpeter, lyricist, composer, and songwriter. He restructured the old form of Konkani music by creating a unique mix of Konkani music and jazz. He has written, composed, and recorded many songs and albums in the Konkani language.

Manohar Rai Sardesai (1925 – 2006)

Manohar Rai Sardesai, or Dr. Manohar Rai Sardesai, was a Konkani poet and writer, as well as a French translator. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of Konkan poetry and for helping it gain popularity nationwide and globally.

Mario de Miranda (1926 – 2011)

Mario De Miranda was an Indian cartoonist and painter born in Daman, Goa. He became popular after his cartoons and caricatures were featured in the weekly news magazine titled The Illustrated Weekly of India. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan award in 2012.

Bruno Coutinho (1986 – present)

Bruno Coutinho is a Goa-born Indian football player, who is now a football coach. He has represented India in many international sporting events such as the Asia Cup, the President’s Cup, the Olympics, and more. He is the recipient of the Arjuna Award (2001), the National Award, the AIFF player of the year award (1996), and others.

Raghunath Anant Mashelkar (1943 – present)

Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is an Indian chemical engineer born in the Mashel village of Goa. He has headed many scientific organisations, such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the India National Science Academy, and the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He has been on the Board of Directors of many renowned companies such as Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), and Tata Motors. He has also contributed to research and development in the field of Polymer Science and Engineering.

Vasudev Mahadev Salgaocar (1916 – 1984)

Vasudev Mahadev Salgaocar was an Indian entrepreneur and businessman. He was the founder and chairman of V. M. Salgaocar Group of Companies, specialising in iron ore mining and other areas. He is also the founder of Salgaocar Football Club.

Ramachandra Pandurang Vaidya (1861 – 1938)

Ramachandra Pandurang Vaidya, popularly known as Dada Vaidya, was a Goan Ayurvedic doctor and scholar. He has made significant contributions to the fields of medicine, education, science, and art. He also worked towards the social upliftment of people during his career.

Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar (1910 – 1984)

Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar, popularly known as ba-ki-Baab Borkar, was born in Borim, Goa and was an Indian poet and author in Marathi and Konkani. His literary artwork has been highly appreciated and is an inspiration to millions. His notable works are Mazha Gaav, Pratibha (1930) and Dudhsagar (1947).

Bhumi Pednekar (1989 – present)

Bhumi Pednekar is an Indian Bollywood actress. She gained popularity from her debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha with actor Ayushmann Khurana in 2015, for which she was awarded the Filmfare award for Best Female Debut. Her notable films are Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017), Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017), and Bala (2019). She also lends her time to social causes. In her 7-year career, she has been featured in 13 Bollywood films.

Conclusion

Goa is a growing state which is home to many talented and famous personalities. Many people from Goa have made remarkable contributions to various fields and have enjoyed success and popularity. This list of famous personalities of Goa will help people learn about famous Goans and their remarkable achievements. This article contains the names of some famous people  and their accomplishments, but there are many more.