Goa Legislative Assembly

<p>Kamat, Shri Gopal Apa, (Satari); b. at Sanquelim on July 22, 1917, s. of late Shri Apa Kamat; m. to Gulab Mulgaonkar; ed. completed Lyceum Course and obtained Sanad for State Examination in Law; knows Konkani, Marathi, Portuguese, French, Latin, German, Sanskrit, English and Hindi; (Member of the Legislative Assembly elected on the Maharashtrawadi Gomantakwadi Party ticket); Lawyer; started practice at Bicholim in 1940; was a Member of the Executive of League &ldquo;Liga do Estado da India&rdquo; formed in 1945 to secure democratic rights to Goans in 1946; associated himself with the defence of freedom fighters in the military and judicial courts; was a member of the Committee set up by the Portuguese Government to go into the demand for political Reforms Politico&rdquo; and make recommendations. His proposals were regarded by Salazar as a Cry of Revolt.<br />In 1954, joined National Congress, Goa and became President of its Central Committee. Was arrested on two occasions and sentenced to ten years imprisonment and fined but was finally released a little before Liberation of Goa. After Liberation was elected a Member of the All India Congress Committee.<br />While working as a member of the Committee formed under &ldquo;Regulamento das Mazanias&rdquo; of Hindu Devalayas to modify existing regulations, he recorded the opinion that freedom should be accorded to Mahajan associations so as to admit members outside the existing membership. He claimed equal religious rights to all Hindus without any discrimination of caste and creed; Led a Morcha of Harijans to Shri Manguesh Temple; was a member of the Informal Consultative Council after Liberation; worked as a member of the National Loan Scholarships Committee; Archaelogical Committee; Freedom Fighters Rehabilitation Board; Food Price Advisory Committee; Housing Board; Committee on Land Reforms Commission and Chairman Law Commission; was also member of the Administrative Tribunal and of the State Cooperative Tribunal; was elected Speaker of the Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly on 13-4-1967, and resigned from the M.G. party on 12th December, 1967 to become a non-party Speaker. Chairman, Business Advisory Committee and Rules Committee.<br />Special interest: Journalism, Contribution of articles to local and outside dailies; great interest in Hindi; actively interested in Harijan movement .<br />Permanent Address: Bicholim, Goa District.</p>