Champions of Goa liberation

A file pic of the Goa Liberation Movement

Just like the Indian independence movement that sought freedom from the clutches of the British Raj, the Goa Liberation Movement fought to end the Portuguese colonial rule that lasted in Goa for more than 450 years.

The Goa Liberation Movement grew from small scale revolts and uprisings, continuous and spontaneous resistance from the locals, into a full-fledged freedom movement between the years 1940 to 1961. It witnessed participation from satyagrahis, journalists, film artists, armed guerrillas and people from all walks of life.

The freedom movement in Goa comprised a range of tactics including non-violent protests and demonstrations, revolutionary methods, diplomacy, etc. Since the beginning of the colonial rule, measures introduced by the Portuguese to ‘fully’ control Goans met with resistance. In 1555, for example, the Goans opposed the imposition and collection of hefty land tax.

Among the last to be ‘free’

When India became independent in 1947, Goa was still under the Portuguese control. The European colonists were among the first to colonise parts of India but were the last to leave. Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on 19 December every year. In 1961, on this day, Goa was liberated from the Portuguese rule but the movement has today become a forgotten war of freedom. 

Post 1947, some pockets of the country remained under foreign colonial rule. The French left Puducherry (then Pondicherry) in 1954 but the Portuguese continued to resist and challenge India’s claim on Goa.

When the Portuguese invaded Goa, they began the inquisition and by 1540, the worst phase began when they started the persecution of Hindus by destruction of temples, suppression of local language i.e. Konkani, prohibiting Hindu marriage rituals, etc. 

Tax exemptions were given to those Hindus who voluntarily converted to Christianity. There was suppression of right to assembly and speech and press. Those who didn’t comply would be imprisoned, even given death sentences.

The Goan Inquisition targeted New Christians accused of secretly practising their former religions and Old Christians accused of involvement in the Protestant Revolution of the 16th century. The Inquisition in Goa was finally abolished in 1812. 

Resenting the Portuguese rule

At the time, resentment with the Portuguese grew but mainly among those who wanted to gain power for themselves. Till 1912, there were 14 ‘unsuccessful’ local revolts against the Portuguese rule. Major reason of failure was disinterest from majority of Goans.

In 1787, an attempt was made to replace the Portuguese rule with that of Tipu Sultan. ‘Conspiracy of the Pintos’ was led by prominent Goan Catholic priests from Candolim village in Bardez, mainly Fr. Caetano Francisco Couto of Panaji and Jose Antonio Gonsalves of Divar.

The Ranes of Satari launched several insurrections between 1755 and 1822 to secure their lost rights from the Portuguese rulers. In 1895, with the help of 900 aides, Dada Rane launched a bigger revolt against the Portuguese using guerilla warfare but it was unsuccessful.

Simultaneously, the Goan consciousness was being influenced by the events of the Indian independence movement and Francisco Luis Gomes, one of the first Goans to demand freedom of India from the British. 

Stirring rebellion

In 1900, the 22-year-old Luís de Menezes Bragança founded O Heraldo – the first Portuguese language daily newspaper in Goa which was critical of the Portuguese colonial rule.

In 1910, when the Portuguese monarchy was abolished, several colonies, including Goa, hoped they’ll be free. That didn’t happen as the Portuguese colonial policies remained unchanged. As a result, anti-colonial movement gained momentum in Goa.

In 1917, the ‘Carta Organica’ law was passed that oversaw all civil liberties in Goa. To curb growing dissent among masses, the Portuguese government enforced rules that infringed on civil liberties including press censorship.

Initially, it were Lokmanya Tilak’s ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’ that inspired and influenced Goans and shaped public opinion. Later, Dattatraya Venkatesh Pai’s ‘Hindu’ and Govind Pundalik Hegde Dessai’s ‘Bharat’ that relentless published to invigorate Goans. The concepts of self-determination and liberalism were also furthered by of Luis de Menezes Braganza in ‘Pracasha’. 

Inspired by ‘free’ minds, in 1928, Tristão de Bragança Cunha founded the Goa National Congress that received recognition and representation at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. In 1930, Portugal passed ‘Acto Colonial’ that prohibited political rallies and congregations in all Portuguese colonies. 

The beginning of the end

It was Dr Ram Manohar Lohia – an Indian independence movement activist and a socialist political leader who initiated the final blow to the Portuguese colonial rule and gave the much-needed impetus to the freedom movement in Goa.

On 18 June 1946, he openly defined the government orders against public gatherings and held one at Margao. He addressed more than 5,000 people at Municipal Chowk in Margao, now known as Lohia Maidan. The crowd raised slogans of Dr Lohia zindabad and Jai Hind throughout his speech and the fervour soon spread across Goa. The 18th June Road in Panjim, Goa is named after the great revolutionary leader and 18 June is commemorated as ‘Goa Revolution Day’ in the state. 

The torch of civil disobedience ignited by Lohia led to his incarceration along with Juliao Menezes at the Aguada prison (Fortaleza da Aguada). Incidentally, freedom fighter T B Cunha was in another cell, also serving solitary confinement. This incident earned Lohia the title of ‘The Lion of Aguada’ from noted Goan poet Manohar Rai Sardesai.

Dr. Juliao Menezes was a nationalist leader from Goa, a medical practitioner and an author. He studied with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia in Berlin and along with him played an important role in the Goa liberation movement. He established the ‘Gomantak Praja Mandal’ in 1939 to spread national fervour among Goans. In 1942, he started ‘Gomantak’ an English-Konkani weekly and actively participated in the formation of the National Congress (Goa).

The unsung heroes

It was owing to the sacrifice of hundreds of freedom fighters that Goa became free. While a few were commemorated for their contribution, many more remained unsung and never got recognition for challenging the Portuguese regime.

Shanti Nayak, Purshottam Kakodkar, Laxmikant Bhembre, Evagrio Jorge, Shyamrao Madkaikar, Adv Jose Inacio Loyola, Vinayak Mayekar, Dr Jose Francisco Martins, Vasant Molio, Pachibab Sardesai, John Carvalho, Guilherme D’Souza Ticlo, to name a few.

Many of them were present on the historic day of 18 June 1946 in Margao to challenge the dictatorial regime of Salazar. The liberation movement in Goa witnessed participation from a large number of women as well. During the struggle, many freedom fighters sacrificed their lives, several others were deported to Portugal, Angola, etc. for imprisonment and many were tortured in jails.

The liberation movement regained momentum with the liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 1954. Following this, the National Congress (Goa) and the Goa Vimochan Sahayak Samiti in Goa launched mass satyagrahas in 1954 and 1955. 

Several fronts opened to challenge the Portuguese regime in Goa – the Goan People’s Party, Azad Gomantak Dal, the Frante Patriotica, the United Front of Goans, Goa Liberation Army, etc.

Liberation of Goa was discussed in international forums including at the United Nations. Finally, in 1961, India proclaimed that Goa should join India ‘either with full peace or with full use of force’. Following a military operation conducted on 18 and 19 December 1961, troops of the Indian armed forces captured Goa, Daman and Diu, liberating from 450 years of colonial rule. The governor-general of Portuguese India Manuel António Vassalo e Silva signed an instrument of surrender.