Wilfred De Souza

Wilfred De Souza Biography

Wilfred de Souza was a surgeon and politician from Goa, who has served as the Chief Minister of Goa three times. He served his first term as CM during the period, 18 May 1993 – 2 April 1994, followed by 18 May 1993 – 2 April 1994 and 30 July 1998 – 26 November 1998, and these terms lasted for a few months only. He was a member of Indian National Congress, and has been affiliated to regional parties like Goa Rajiv Congress Party, Nationalist Congress Party and Trinamool Congress. During his third tenure as CM, he represented Goa Rajiv Congress Party and for the first two terms he represented INC.

Wilfred de Souza was born on 23 April 1927 in Kampala, Uganda, British East Africa. He was born to Ugandan Indian parents, Dr. Tito Fermino de Souza and Alina Ana Maria de Souza. They were descendants who immigrated from Anjuna, Goa. Later the family moved back and relocated in Goa, where Wilfred de Souza did his advanced studies. He completed MBBS from Bombay University and remained a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, Edinburgh as well as in India. He was a recipient of Dr. B. C. Roy Award – as "Eminent Medical Man & Statesman" from the Medical Council of India.

He is credited to form the alliance which resulted in the first government formation of Indian national congress in Goa. From 1963 until 1979 Goan politics had been dominated by the regional parties, particularly the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. He was a medical practitioner for many years. He got into active politics in the 1990s, and predominantly remained a member of Indian National Congress. Though he served three terms as CM, all those tenures were short-lived. He passed away in Panaji on 4 September 2015.

Published: February 15, 2019

Updated: February 15, 2019