HERALD
Panjim, 30 November 1989
A Tribute to General Jacob
Lt Gen. Jacob, a nominee of the BJP-led alliance government presided over the destiny of the state during one of the most turbulent periods in Goa's political history. The tenure of Lt Gen. Jacob was marred by an epidemic of defections and counter defections which saw a succession of very short-lived governments. It started with the collapse of the Pratapsing Rane-led Congress government following the revolt by Dr Wilfred de Souza and culminated with the swearing in of the Congress-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government headed by Francisco Sardinha. This was the last constitutional duty enforced by Lt. General Jacob before he relinquished his office. All through the political turbulence that rocked Goa during the current year, the Governor, Lt Gen. Jacob earned the respect of all the political groups in the state by his strict neutrality. The Governor, Lt Gen. Jacob very strictly adhered to the rules and norms set by the Constitution. President's rule was imposed in the State earlier this year when it became clear that no party or group was in position to form the Government.
The duration of President's rule during which Lt General Jacob not only reigned but also ruled was the high point of his tenure as Governor of the State. Lt GeneralJacob demonstrated and dramatized the fact that jumbo cabinets were not necessary and the Sate could be administered very efficiently by just a team of three. Comprising the governor and his two advisers when Lt. General Jacob inherited the responsibility of taking charge of the administration of the State, the economy was in shambles and the State was virtually bankrupt. To make matters worse, the popular government that had preceded the imposition of President's rule in the State had behaved in a most irresponsible manner and had resorted to borrowing large sums of money from the Economic Development Corporation and the cooperative banks at very high rates of interest. The administration in the State had come virtually to a standstill because of chronic political instability and the succession of governments.
Lt General Jacob rose magnificently to the new challenge before him. Lt General Jacob adopted a hands-on style of governance with a total commitment to the ordinary citizens of the State. Lt General Jacob enforced discipline in the State administration by setting an example himself. During his tenure as Administrator, Lt General Jacob arrived on time or even before time at the Adil Shah Palace housing the Secretariat, compelling senior and junior bureaucrats to arrive in time. Lt General Jacob made surprise visits to both the North and South Goa Collectorates and even the Goa Medical College and the Kadamba Bus Stand at Panjim to tone up the administration. The administrator made himself freely accessible to ordinary citizens at the Secretariat and made sure that the bureaucrats promptly attended to the grievances of the people. Corruption was totally eliminated during Lt General Jacob's tenure as administrator. Among his major achievements was the fact that being a lover of nature he created two additional sanctuaries in the State by ruthlessly cutting down on wasteful expenditure.
Lt General Jacob strengthened the financial position of the State to the extent that some of the high interest loans were paid back. The governor using his close contact with senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders managed to secure an additional grant of Rs Fifty crore to strengthen the administration. Lt General Jacob specifically allotted funds for strengthening various infrastructural facilities like power, water supply, transport and improving medical facilities at the Goa Medical College. In response to demands and places from the tourism industry, the governor successfully interceded with the then Defence Minister George Fernandes to permit night landing facilities at the Navy controlled Dabolim Airport. This has enabled more charters to land in Goa. The governor also took a keen interest in preserving historical monuments and the heritage of Goa. Lt General Jacob led a very simple life and was very conscious of the need to cut down expenditures when the he went to London to attend a Commonwealth-sponsored meeting of non-governmental bodies. He paid his fare and made his own arrangements for accommodation and did not impose any burden on the State.
The most notable aspect of Lt General Jacob's tenure as a governor was that he acted in totally non-partisan manner in dealing with the various political crises that occurred during his tenure. The governor went strictly by the Constitution in dealing with the claims and the counter claims made by various political practices in the State. During the brief span of President's rule in the State, he demonstrated that he was a very able and efficient administrator. Indeed, the ordinary citizens were so happy that there were even demands that Presidential rule should be extended. But being a staunch democrat, the governor went back to his rule as head of the state when elections were held and a popular government reinstalled in the State. Of all the governors who served in Goa, Lt General Jacob was the best by any yardstick. The people of Goa owe Lt General Jacob a great debt of gratitude for genuine commitment and dedication to the people of Goa.
Excerpt from Crossed Swords By Shuja Nawaz, Oxford Publishers, 2008
In the words of a later Pakistan National Defence study of the war, 'the Indians planned and executed their offensive against East Pakistan in a textbook manner. It was a classic example of thorough planning, minute coordination and bold execution.'45 The credit clearly goes to General Jacob's meticulous preparations in the Indian eastern command and to the implementation by his corps commanders, like Tappy Raina in West Bengal who improved in the field and kept the momentum going ... they managed to isolate Pakistani defenders in their separate sectors, bypassing tough targets and hitting them from the rear.