Was Lohia’s call to all Goans, “The immediate aim of our movement is to win the right to assemble, to organize and to publish. Our aim is to create a new Goa, where every single Goan is a worthy and happy citizen who tries to acquire the dignity of full democracy and is willing to live and die for a free and united Hindustan”.In 1946, at the time when the rest of India was inching towards freedom, on the invitation of Goan academician and writer, Dr Juliao Menezes, Ram Manohar Lohia arrived in Goa. What was originally a visit to a friend, evolved into a movement for civil liberties. When the Goans heard of Lohia’s arrival, nationalist leaders rushed to Menezes’s residence to apprise Lohia of the plight of the Goans.18th June 1946, was the beginning of the end of the Portuguese rule in India. 76 years ago, the first cry for freedom emanated from the streets and sands of Goa launched by freedom fighter, nationalist and socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.
Although India attained independence, it took 14 years for Goa’s liberation! This was due to a variety of complex factors like:
- Trauma of Partition
- Experience of War with Pakistan
- India wanted to showcase itself as a peace-abiding nation.
- Portugal being member of NATO. These factors kept the Government of India from opening another front in which the international community could get involved.
- Besides, it was Mahatma Gandhi’s opinion that a lot of groundwork was still needed in Goa to raise the consciousness of the people, and the diverse political voices emerging within should be brought under a common umbrella first.
- The dichotomies within the groups fighting (Satyagraha vs Military Action- Azad Gomantak Dal) for freedom in Goa, also led to delay in liberation of Goa.
A walk through the sands of time
1510 – Goa became a Portuguese colony, when Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the forces of the sultan of Bjiapur, Yusuf Adil Shah.
1928 – Stalwarts such as Tristão de Bragança Cunha, celebrated as the father of Goan nationalism, founded the Goa National Congress at the Calcutta session of the INC.
1946 – Ram Manohar Lohia led a historic rally in Goa that gave a call for civil liberties and freedom, and eventual integration with India, a watershed moment in Goa’s freedom struggle.
1949 – Relations between India and Portugal began amicable in 1947 after India’s independence and diplomatic relations were established.
1950 – Bilateral relations however went into decline over Portugal’s refusal to surrender its enclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli on India’s west coast.
1951 – Portugal had changed its constitution to claim Goa not as a colonial possession, but as an overseas province. * The move was aimed at making Goa a part of the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military alliance. It was intended to invoke the collective security clause of the treaty, in the event of an attack by India.
1955 – the two nations had cut off diplomatic relations, triggering a crisis which precipitated the liberation of Goa by Indian military forces
1961 – Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu and Goa with the Indian mainland on 19th December.
It brought an end to 451 years of Portuguese overseas provincial governance in Goa. As we step towards the 62nd year of Goa’s liberation, let us work together to protect our motherland. Wish you all a mindful Goa Liberation Day!
-Louella Santimano e Dias