Jairam Ramesh pays respects to Manohar Parrikar, harkens back to their time at IIT Bombay

Former Union Minister and Congress leer Jairam Ramesh has condoled demise of Goa Chief Mahar Parrikar who passed away on Sunday at of 63 after an over year-long battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

While y represented different parties, Jairam Ramesh and Mahar Parrikar shared a common origin, both having studied toger at prestigious Indian Institute of Techlogy Bombay (IIT Bombay). In his tribute, Jairam Ramesh has shared memories of ir time toger in college.

Ramesh writes on Twitter, "My memories of Mahar Parrikar go back to mid-1970s when both of us were at IIT Mumbai and he was three years my junior re. Our paths crossed again in 2002 when we were jointly conferred Distinguished Alumnus Award."

He goes on to write about how y remained in touch despite political divide:

"reafter we kept in touch setting aside our respective political affiliations."

Jairam Ramesh proceeds to remember Mahar Parrikar's sense of humour harkening back to conversations y'd h over years and laments that four-time Goa Chief Minister h many years of public service left in him:

Earlier, BJP MP Dr Subramanian Swamy h also remembered Mahar Parrikar as an IIT Bombay student, sharing a story of how y'd first met when Parrikar h been Dr Swamy's booth nt when latter h contested and won Mumbai rth East Lok Sabha seat as a Janata party candidate in 1977 and 1980.

India is observing a day of national mourning on March 18 on account of former union Defence Minister's demise, with state of Goa to observe a week's mourning. His last rites are set to be performed at 5 pm on Monday, with Prime Minister and or senior central ministers set to attend.