Liberation At Last

In the later part of the 19th and early 20th century, freedom from Portugal was not much of an issue in Goa. The Portuguese zeal for forced conversions and religious intolerance had long since died down. Even the press was fairly free. Most demands were for administrative and financial autonomy from Portugal.

But in 1926, Portugal, came in the iron grip of dictatorship. The control on the press was severe. All newspapers and even invitation cards had to be submitted for pre-censorship. In case of disobedience, the Governor was empowered without any reference to the judiciary, to suspend the newspaper, close down the printing press and impose heavy fines.

The suppression of liberties in Goa and the intolerable conditions created by the dictatorship brought the great Indian socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia to Goa. At a public meeting in Margao he launched a movement for civil liberties which set in motion a mass movement for freedom from Portuguese rule. This can be termed as the beginning of the last phase of the freedom struggle of Goa.

Dr. Lohia truly kindled the flame of freedom in the hearts of the Goan people, as a result of which all shops and business establishments put down their shutters and expressed their solidarity with the cause. 18 June, 1946 thus remains a memorable and sacred day in the history of Goa. From then on for four days together, men, women and even children came out in rnorchas and processions expressing their deep desire for freedom.

The satyagraha movement continued up to November 1946 during which period a number of leaders were arrested for defying the ban on civil liberties. However by the end of 1946, the satyagraha movement had died down. The Portuguese government adopted more repressive measures to root out the movement from Goa.

Most Goans hoped that with India's imminent independence in 1947, it would be only a matter of time for the end of Portuguese rule in Goa. Unfortunately, years passed by without any change in the status of Goa and the territories of Daman and Diu.

The National Congress (Goa) which was already functioning in Goa began its operations in Bombay; the other parties formed were the Azad Gomantak Dal, the United Front of Goans, the Goa Liberation Council, the Goan People's Party, the Quit Goa Organisation, etc.

The National Congress as well as the Liberation Council believed in non-violence while the Azad Gomantak Dal which had pledged to fight the regime by means of arms set out to obtain weapons and, infiltrating into Goa, began to attack the Portuguese troops guarding the frontiers, blowing ammunition dumps, blowing police stations and harassing the Portuguese in every way.

The Portuguese Government in the meantime had brought into Goa white and African troops and large quantities of war material: it seemed that the Portuguese Government was poised to declare war on India, apart from creating great fear in the population.

Portuguese Dictator Salazar refused to negotiate with India The Government of India strictly followed its policy of peaceful negotiations with Portugal and made attempts to solve the problem of Goa without the use of force. But every such attempt was turned down by the Portuguese.

The Government of India, therefore, felt that the Diplomatic Mission in Lisbon would serve no purpose; the Government of Portugal was informed accordingly, and the Indian Mission was withdrawn in June 1953.

The United Front of Goans under the leadership of Mr. Francis Mascarenhas successfully drove the Portuguese out of Dadra on 24 July 1954; subsequently, the bigger territory of Nagar-Haveli with its capital at Silvassa was liberated by members of the Azad Gomantak Dal on 2 August. The Goan Liberation Movement, had suddenly got a great impetus and began to show signs of activity.

In order to bring the various political organisations functioning in Bombay, each one acting independently, the need to have a single body co-ordinating operations was felt: thus the Goa Action Committee was formed in 1953 under Dr. T.B. Cunha. This formation received wide acclaim in India; a number of Goans and non-Goans came forward to enroll themselves as volunteers to offer satyagraha in Goa.

But Prime Minister Nehru, in his traditional peaceful policy, just two days before the first batch was to enter Goa declared that he would not permit non-Goans to go to Goa. Consequently on 15 August 1954, India's Independence Day, three small batches of Goan satyagrahis entered Goa and as was to be expected were arrested, beaten up and after a trial sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

Their plight led the Government of India to lodge a strong protest with a threat of serious and far reaching repercussions. People in India in general and Goans in particular, depressed over Government of India's 'soft' policy were demanding strong action.

In view of Prime Minister Nehru's reluctance in taking action, Indian political parties, namely, the Praja Socialist Party, Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, Hindu Mahasabha and Communist Party of India organised their groups to send satyagrahis to Goa, Daman and Diu. On 15 August 1955, some 3,000 volunteers, including women, entered Goa from different points on India-Goa borders.

The Portuguese military and police not only lathi-charged the unarmed and non-violent satyagrahis but also opened fire on them. As a result, a number of satyagrahis were shot dead, hundreds were wounded, some of them seriously. The Portuguese forces resorted to firing without giving any warning. The satyagraha movement continued for some days more, but subsequently, the Government of India imposed restrictions on people going to Goa as satyagrahis.

Thus from 1955 to 1961 the Goan and the Indian political parties were left only to organise public meetings and adopt resolutions condemning Portuguese rule. A number of newspapers started by Goans gave wide publicity to happenings in Goa and made the people in India and abroad aware of the terrible conditions in Goa.

In October 1961, a seminar on Portuguese colonialism was held in New Delhi, attended by representatives of foreign countries, especially of Africa, brought about a change in the thinking of Prime Minister Nehru. At a public meeting soon after the seminar, he promised that it was time to rethink the policy on Goa and that Goa would soon be free.

In spite of this Dr. Salazar, the Portuguese dictactor, was adamant and paid no attention to the representation made by both U.S.A. and Great Britain to settle the issue of Goa. So India had no alternative left but to launch military action.

On 18-19 December 1961 the Indian Troops entered Goa at various points. The actions was swift and met with little resistance from the Portuguese forces. When the army marched into Goa, the people welcomed it with shouts of joy. After 450 years under the Portuguese, Goa had finally rejoined the Indian nation.