Dec 6, 2010
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
For every rule there is an exception and it applies to almost all fields, including the much maligned political field. People generally have an impression that all politicians, veterans or aspiring, are media hungry and try to corner as much space and publicity, just to be in news and in public mind, without doing anything concrete for the welfare of the people or for the development of the society. But, politics is not as bad as most of us think, despite the despicable and abysmal level to which it has descended in the last few decades, because we still find a few people who don’t quite fit into this generally accepted perception but go about their work quietly without any trace of vanity.
Come to accept this. It is not easy to be in the late 20’s and be a veteran of almost 15 years of political experience and at the same time be away from the media glare. It is however, not impossible either. And this is what makes the soft spoken, suave, young and emerging politician of Dakshina Kannada, Dolphy Prashanth D Souza, a rare breed among today’s politicians. What is more, he has been able to make his political presence without any political background or a godfather in politics.
True to his middle name, he is a man of quietude, who has no airs about him and believes in serving the people more as a duty than a service. He does not hanker for media attention and is a quiet achiever. “I don’t believe in over exposure. For me that kind of politics does not work”, he asserts. Despite being in politics for the last 15 years if many people in Dakshina Kannada do not know much about this young politician, it is not their fault. Dolphy does not subscribe to the idea of advertising himself in public domain by resorting to cheap publicity. But people in Bantwal know him through the good work he has done.
It is a feather in the cap of this young and aspiring politician that very recently he has been nominated as the member of Central Advisory Committee (CAC) on Limestone and Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund, with its headquarters in Delhi. He is one among the 3 ruling party political nominees appointed to this committee. Even that has not made any news because Dolphy has chosen not to tom-tom about it. “My main aim in life is to serve the people and that is what drew me towards politics during my student days. Those ideals have not changed with the passage of time and I sincerely want to work for welfare of the people”, he contends. Keeping a low profile does not mean Dolphy can be easily dismissed as a political non-entity.
Known for his organizing capabilities, Dolphy, who hails from Kinnibettu, Bantwal, says “I joined politics at the age of 15”. Even as try to sink in this revelation and accept it as a matter of fact, considering his age, he says “I was in school NCC and was the first one from SVS College, Bantwal, to represent the country in the Republic Day parade in 1997. Being in Delhi, I was awakened to a new realization and was enfolded with a new feeling of doing something for the nation and I dreamt of joining politics then and there. I pursued my ambition with a single minded devotion and able to establish myself with my service to the society”.
Dolphy had come in touch with former Member of Parliament from Udupi Oscar Fernandes in the early 90’s when Oscar came to his college function and that acquaintance itself proved to be a launching pad for the political career of this young aspiring politician. He got an opportunity to exhibit his organizing skills in 1992 general elections when Oscar contested as the Congress candidate from Udupi. Dolphy along with his band of loyal supporters campaigned rigorously to ensure his victory and succeeded. Opportunity came knocking to him once again in 1996 general elections when he was given the vital responsibility of keeping up to date account of the election expenses of the entire Bantwal Block Congress. His discipline, diligence and leadership qualities came into the fore during this general election. Congress leader former MLC and freedom fighter Manur Vasudeva Kamath noticed all the right qualities in a young Dolphy and brought him into active politics.
Though Dolphy always preferred to keep a low profile his bubbling energy and perpetual determination did not go unnoticed by those who matter in the Congress and he was propelled into student politics when he was elected as D K District NSUI secretary of the Congress party. As a NCC in 1997 he got an opportunity to represent the college in the Republic Day parade which actually er fuelled his ambition of becoming a politician and there has been no looking back. Opportunity cam knocking to Dolphy in 1998 when he contested and won the Mangalore University senate elections as a NSUI candidate under the leadership of the then Youth Congress President and now MLA, U T Khader. He was the youngest office bearer in the district Congress Committee when he was appointed as the general secretary of the District Congress when Janardhana Poojary was the PCC President.
Dolpy, is the second child of Charles D Souza and Izabella Lobo of Modankap parish. His father is an agriculturist and mother Izabella runs a dairy business in Bantwal. His elder brother works as a lecturer in Vagga. Dolphy has a post graduate degree in Social Work and has done a PG diploma course in Tourism and Hotel Management. But his first love has always been politics and he is steadfast in his commitment to serve the society as a politician. As a young leader Dolphy has served in various capacities in the Congress party - as Youth Congress District Secretary, Karnataka State Youth Congress Vice President and as General Secretary of District Congress. Though he was an aspirant to the post of Taluk Panchayat member in Bantwal Taluk in 2000, a senior Congress leader saw him as a future threat to his own political existence and thwarted his hope by fielding another catholic leader, a political non-entity, just to prevent Dolphy from finding a political base in Bantwal. He was second time unlucky to be the Congress candidate in 2006 despite avowal support from leaders like Oscar Fernandes and Blasius D Souza.
Dolphy would have been the Congress candidate from Mangalore constituency during the 2008 assembly elections, but once again forces which were inimical to him, ensured he did not get a chance. Though local Congress leaders supported his candidature luck deserted him once again. However, Dolphy is undaunted by such missed opportunities and close brush with destiny. “I am not disappointed by the turn of events. Contesting elections is not my sole aim and I have found ways and means of serving people without being an elected representative. Age is still on my side and I believe the good work I have done will always keep me in good stead ”, he muses.
It is true that Dolphy has wide and contacts and exerts considerable influence with the higher echelons of the ruling party in Delhi. He is primarily responsible for bringing the President of India Dr Pratibha Devisingh Patil and other national leaders to Mangalore, for the ongoing first World Konkani Cultural Convention. He has used his influential contacts to get lot of financial benefits for Dakshina Kannada District from various schemes of the government. He has been able to bring funds from MP’s like Sham Benegal, Charles Dias Fanthom, Anil Lad and other MP’s, which has been used for setting up schools, colleges, community halls, for improving infrastructure and other works of public utility. He says “various government schemes like NREG has funds which go unutilized most of the times as elected representatives fail to implement these schemes. In states like Andhra and Tamilnadu MPs have made use of these schemes to bring money for their constituencies for developmental works”.
If Dolphy gets an opportunity to represent the people he says he will bring huge funds from various central government schemes for improving infrastructure and for other developmental works. “I know whom to approach for funds and how to get it done at the highest level. My experience of the last 15 years has given me lot of exposure and insight into the working of the government departments. I don’t believe in giving false assurances but will try to fulfill the promises I make to the people”.
It is not surprising that Dolphy holds former minister and Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary as his role model in politics. He is highly inspired by Poojary’s sincerity and the simple life he leads despite being in politics for eons. “Janardhana Poojary is outspoken but is very down to earth. He is a great leader, very simple, non-corrupt and a dedicated party worker. He does not aspire for wealth or other worldly comforts. When he was offered 2 acres of land in Bangalore when he was a MP, he had refused it. We cannot get such a leader in Karnataka Congress. There is only one Janardhana Poojary and it is difficult to find the likes of him in politics”.
The organizing capability of Dolphy has been recognized at the national level also and Congress leader Margaret Alva had appointed him as the central observer in Goa for the assembly elections held in 2007. Fransciso Sardina, Chairman of the Estimation Committee had appointed him as the District Returning Officers during the recently held Delhi Pradesh Congress Party’s organizational elections. Former Minister and MP Oscar Fernandes had recommended his name for the Central Advisory Committee on Limestone and Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund and he has been appointed as a member for a period of three years.
Dolphy has a special interest in watching parliament debates of many countries whenever he finds little time. He is a bachelor and occasionally finds it relaxing to watch a movie.
With such impeccable credentials and with a pervious mind to work for the betterment of people, Dolphy Prashanth D Souza has all the traits of emerging as a future political leader. But he has certainly shown enough qualities of being ‘different’ from the present bunch of politicians.
Dolphy Dsouza can be contacted at : 0091 - 9916292195