Goa's first woman CM Shashikala Kakodkar passes away at 81

Goa's first woman chief minister, Shashikala Kakodkar, passed away on 28 October.

The 81-year-old was suffering from a prolonged illness and was bed-ridden since the last one month.

The Goa government has announced two days state mourning, while all government offices were given a holiday on 28 October.

Following her father's death in 1973 while being still in office, Kakodkar became chief minister and continued to be in power till 1979.

Kakodkar was active in social and cultural fields and had headed the Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), a front demanding mother tongue be made medium of instruction in elementary education.

She is survived by three sons and the final rites will be performed on 29 October.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar while expressing condolences said Goa has lost the woman whose has contributed immensely to the development of the state.

--ANI