https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Urminda_MascarenhasUrminda Mascarenhas - Revision history2026-10-30T18:22:56ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urminda_Mascarenhas&diff=542808&oldid=prevTollystory: starting initial details needs work!2026-04-23T08:31:46Z<p>starting initial details needs work!</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian politician and educator (1926–2010)}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| name = Urminda Mascarenhas<br />
| image = Urminda Mascarenhas.jpg<br />
| caption = Portrait of Mascarenhas<br />
| birth_place = [[Goa]], [[Portuguese India]]<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|1|16|df=y}}<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|2|20|1926|1|16|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = [[Vasco da Gama, Goa]], India<br />
| office = [[Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly|Member of Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly]]<br />
| constituency = [[Mormugao Assembly constituency|Mormugao]]<br />
| term_start = 11 December 1963<br />
| term_end = 1967<br />
| predecessor = ''constituency established''<br />
| successor = Gajanan Patil<br />
| party = [[United Goans Party]] (1963–1967)<br />
| spouse = Marcelino Da Lima Leitao (died 1972)<br />
| alma_mater = [[Bombay University]] ([[Bachelor of Education|B.Ed]], [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc]])<br />
| children = 5<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|educator|businesswoman}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Urminda Mascarenhas e Lima Leitao''' ([[née]] '''Mascarenhas'''; 16 January 1926 – 20 February 2010) was an Indian politician, educator and businesswoman. She was a former member of the [[Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly]], representing the [[Mormugao Assembly constituency]] from 1963 to 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goa Legislative Assembly |url=https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=229 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.goavidhansabha.gov.in}}</ref> Mascarenhas was the first woman MLA to be elected in the [[1963 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election]], also the first and only woman legislator from the [[Mormugao Assembly constituency]].{{efn|a source from [[goanet]] mentions Mascarenhas represented the [[Vasco Da Gama Assembly constituency]] which is false.}} She was known for her diligent attitude and [[Radical politics|radical speeches]] in the [[Goa Legislative Assembly|state legislative assembly]].<br />
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==Career==<br />
===Teaching===<br />
Mascarenhas was a [[Principal (education)|principal]] at A.J De Almeida High School, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] from 1948 to 1952, before contesting in the Goa, Daman and Diu elections in 1963.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=[Goanet] Urminda Mascarenhas e Lima Leitao expired |url=https://goanet.goanet.narkive.com/YwLkAwKD/urminda-mascarenhas-e-lima-leitao-expired |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=goanet.goanet.narkive.com}}</ref><br />
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===Politics (1963–1968)===<br />
Mascarenhas, along with fellow politician [[Jack de Sequeira]], was involved in a movement that led to the eventual victory of the [[Goa Opinion Poll]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Narayan |first=Rajan |date=2024-01-19 |title=UNSUNG HEROES OF THE OPINION POLL! |url=https://www.goanobserver.in/2024/01/19/unsung-heroes-of-the-opinion-poll/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Goan Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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Mascarenhas was a founding member of the [[United Goans Party]] (UGP) along with her husband, Marcelino. She contested in the [[1963 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election]] from the [[Mormugao Assembly constituency]] on the UGP ticket and emerged victorious, serving for five years from 1963 to 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-18 |title=Few women make it to Assembly |publisher=The Navhind Times |url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2022/01/18/goanews/few-women-make-it-to-assembly/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fernandes |first=Paul |date=2017-03-08 |title=53 years on, women yet to find footing in Goa assembly |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/53-years-on-women-yet-to-find-footing-in-goa-assembly/articleshow/57525646.cms |access-date=2024-06-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=de Souza |first=Gerard |date=Apr 4, 2024 |title=Goa's women politicians: Wives, daughters and also-rans |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/goas-women-politicians-wives-daughters-and-alsorans-101712244512584.html |url-access=subscription |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Some of her mentors in politics were [[C. Rajagopalachari]], [[S. Nijalingappa]], former chief minister of [[Mysore State]] and [[Rajmohan Gandhi]]. Mascarenhas later left politics to join her husband in business in 1968.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Assembly |first=Goa, Daman and Diu (India) Legislative |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HD4IAQAAIAAJ&q=Urminda+Mascarenhas |title=Debates; Official Report |date=1967 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Personal life==<br />
Mascarenhas completed her studies in [[Bachelor of Science]] and Bachelor of Training (now [[Bachelor of Education]]) from [[Bombay University]]. She was married to Marcelino Da Lima Leitao and they had six children together. Marcelino died in August 1972.<ref name=":0" /> Her son, Noel, a football administrator and commentator, died in [[Kolkata]] in September 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-09-14 |title=Noted commentator dies hours after attending IFA final |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/noted-commentator-dies-hours-after-attending-ifa-final/articleshow/5007347.cms |access-date=2026-04-09 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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==Death==<br />
On 20 February 2010, Mascarenhas died from a prolonged illness at Dr. Baban's Nursing Home at [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco da Gama]], Goa.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2010 |title=ExMLAs-Lima-Leitao-death-condoled |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/details.php?n_id=5832 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mascarenhas, Urminda}}<br />
[[Category:1926 births]]<br />
[[Category:2010 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]<br />
[[Category:Goa, Daman and Diu MLAs 1963–1967]]<br />
[[Category:People from North Goa district]]<br />
[[Category:United Goans Party politicians]]<br />
[[Category:Businesspeople from Goa]]<br />
[[Category:Women members of the Goa Legislative Assembly]]</div>Tollystory