Harish Zantye – A beacon of hope to the less privileged

BY HARSHVARDHAN BHATKULY

Panaji

Harish Narayan Prabhu Zantye’s journey from being a Member of Legislative Assembly to the Indian Parliament representing North Goa in the Lok Sabha, besides running a successful business is inspiring.

Beginning with a bang by winning his maiden innings in politics against a pedigreed politician like former Chief Minister of Goa, Shashikala Kakodkar and marching on to be the admired Education Minister of then Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu was not a small achievement.

‘He was the most likely face the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi was looking for to lead Goa as the Chief Minister,’ recalls former Member of Rajya Sabha John Fernandes.

Tireless involvement in the field of art, culture, education, industry, finance, banking and politics and striving to administer proactive changes, for the past five decades, Anna, as Harish Zantye was lovingly called, has left an indelible mark on the people of Goa.

Even though Anna was born in Malvan in Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra, he lived and worked from Bicholim and remained committed to the people of the area whilst looking at the whole of Goa as his ‘Karmabhoomi’. Not remaining confined to his political constituency, Anna was a benefactor of the needy and the marginalized. Inspite of living in the lap of wealth and riches and hailing from a privileged section of the society, he was empathetic towards the less privileged and oppressed members of society; and often went beyond his calling to uplift their living conditions and
social stature.

Anna’s contribution and acumen in the field of finance and banking can be gauged by the immense success of Bicholim Urban Co Op Bank Ltd of which he was the founder chairman. This also reveals the honest and ethical approach the management employs in the day-to-day administration of the bank. All this is the legacy of the guidelines laid down by the founder of the bank, Anna. 

Zantye’s Cashew, the brand that evokes trust and quality, is living proof of the genuine heart and divine soul of the tireless work that Anna put in building the brand.

Anna’s passion for cinema saw the establishment of quality cinema houses – Samrat, Ashok, Hira Talkies and later Z Cinemas. The family’s cinema distribution business was once the key source of entertainment in Goa, much before the arrival of the television.

As in politics, business, social life, cultural field and educational arena, Anna will remain the light that will glow for the pure hearts to emulate and employ his ideas to bring about positive social changes leading to a better world.

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