Viriato Fernandes

Captain Viriato Hipolito Mendonca Fernandes (born 4 February 1969) is an Indian politician, social activist, mechanical engineer, and former Indian Navy officer who serves as a Member of Parliament, representing South Goa in the Lok Sabha since June 2024. He is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). During his early years as a navy officer, he was part of Operation Talwar during the Kargil War. After serving 26 years in the Indian Navy, he retired and began activism in the state of Goa, before joining politics in 2021.

Early life and education Viriato Hipolito Mendonca Fernandes was born on 4 February 1969 in Assonora, Goa, India, to Prudente Fernandes and Viviana de Mendonça Fernandes. He received his early education at St. Clara High School in Assonora, and Don Bosco High School in Panjim. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Goa University in 1992. Later in his career, Fernandes pursued postgraduate studies, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in business administration in operations in 2015 and another in supply chain management in 2017 from an unspecified institution. He also holds a certificate in contract management from the University of Southampton.

Military career (1991–2017) After completing his undergraduate engineering degree, Fernandes joined the Indian Navy on 12 August 1991. He commenced his naval career at INS Mandovi in Verem, Goa. Subsequently, he was stationed at INS Shivaji in Lonavala, Maharashtra, where he specialized in marine engineering for a span of two years. Following this assignment, he was transferred to INS Ranjit, a Russian destroyer, and later assumed the role of senior engineer aboard INS Anjadip.

Fernandes developed a fascination with aviation over the course of his career. In the early 1990s, he pursued advanced aeronautical training in Cochin, India, with a focus on mastering the piloting of diverse aircraft types, including Chetak helicopters, Sea Harrier jets, and Dornier turboprop planes. After completing this specialized program, Fernandes was appointed as an air engineering officer at INS Hansa, a major Indian naval air station located in Goa. He served with the Indian Navy's INAS 310 squadron, which was colloquially known as "The Cobras". Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in the late 1990s, leading to Fernandes being deployed to the Indo-Pakistani border region to conduct aerial reconnaissance missions during Pokhran-II. In this capacity, he and his fellow aviators monitored the movements and activities of Pakistani aircraft and military forces.

Political career (2021–present) Fernandes was initially involved with the non-governmental organization (NGO) known as Goencho Avaaz (GA). He was a founding member of the group, which was established in April 2018. He went on to serve as the state convener of the same organization. In November 2021, Fernandes ended his involvement with Goencho Avaaz. Prior to his departure, he had intended to contest the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election as a candidate for the Goencho Avaaz Party. However, six days after he formally left the group, Goencho Avaaz was registered as a political party under the new name Goencho Swabhiman Party on 16 December of that year.

On 10 December 2021, Fernandes joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in the presence of All India Congress Committee general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Before becoming a member of the Indian National Congress (INC), he was reportedly engaged in organizing a visit by Gandhi to Goa.

In the lead-up to the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election, there was discussion surrounding Fernandes' political affiliations and candidacy. In November 2021, the president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), Girish Chodankar, raised questions about Fernandes potentially joining the Indian National Congress (INC) party.

Fernandes contested the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election as an INC candidate in the Dabolim Assembly constituency. He was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Mauvin Godinho, finishing as the runner-up with a margin of 1,570 votes.

Personal life Fernandes is a resident of Chicalim, a census town located in the state of Goa. In the 2010s, he secured sponsorship from the Indian Navy to acquire a Black Belt certification in Six Sigma management. He gained prominence as a national-level badminton player, demonstrating active participation in cricket and football as well. However, his passion appeared to be for the natural environment of Goa, which he has described as a "beautiful paradise".

In 2018, Fernandes and his family were planning to relocate to the United Arab Emirates. But after returning from a public event, he had a change of heart and decided to remain in Goa in order to serve and protect the land. Later that year, he became a founding member of the environmental advocacy group Goencho Avaaz. He enlisted the backing of all 38 non-governmental groups in Goa focused on protecting the state's environmental interests to establish the organization successfully.

Marriage and children Fernandes and his partner, Anita Rosaline Fernandes (née Rodrigues), were wed on 8 December 1996. She is a teacher by profession. Approximately two years after their marriage, in 1998, the couple had a daughter while living in Cochin, Kerala, around the time of India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests.

Positions held Member of the Standing Committee on Defence (26 September 2024 – present)