Bhausaheb Dayanand Bandodkar

Bhausaheb Bandodkar was born in a poor family and before he could complete his primary education destiny snatched his father away from him. Dayanand thereafter had to chart his destiny on his own early in life. He ran small establishments, dabbled in timber trade and as he grew up picked up a partnership in a mining lease. That was a turning point and he soon found himself the owner of an expanding mining enterprise. As a youngster living in the temple precincts of Mahalaxmi at Panaji, leadership came to him naturally. There are stories galore which speak of him as a counter bully to the mixed race student gangs playing havoc with the timid, native and particularly moffusil youngsters studying in the Portuguese Lyceum School in the City of Panaji. He loved sports, especially cricket and was lavish in spending on players, their teams and their tournaments. Naturally at a young age he was the uncrowned youth leader. The night Bandodkar passed away – August 12, 1973, he was the chief guest at the table tennis tournament prize distribution ceremony being held at Panjim Gymkhana. In his memory, his late good friend Madhav S. Talalulikar donated a bust of Bandodkar, which is now displayed with pride at the club’s new foyer.