GPG SEM 5 UNIT 1 : Goa- A Politico- historical Overview

By about 2500 B.C., the first wave of Aryans, from Alexandria migrated and settled down in
Goa. They were Brahmins of Bhargana and Angirasa clans. They worshiped 'fire' and
introduced the concept of king as the owner of land. It is claimed that Shree Parasurama was
the leader of their expedition.

By around 2000 B.C., people from Sumer (Mesopotamia) migrated via sea route and settled
down in Goa. They proclaimed that all village-land belonged to the village Gods or Goddess.
As a result, the Aryan concept of King, as the landowner, was replaced by Sumerian concept
of deities, as the landowners. The Paddye Bhatts of Goa are said to be part of this stock of
settlers. Some of the features of agricultural cultivation in remote villages of Goa, their
irrigation pattern and even architecture of temples etc show deep influence from Sumerian
culture. Some features of land tenure and agricultural cultivation that exist in Goa are similar
to Sumerian pattern. Even Portuguese administration, appreciated their ingenuity and
maintained them in their legislation.

Around 700 B.C., the second wave of Aryans, consisting of Saraswat Brahmins who had
originally migrated from Punjab to Lata Desh (South Gujarat) came, by sea route, and settled
down in Goa. Along with them, some kshatriyas (Bhojas and Chaddyas, named together as
'chaddes') also came and established their first settlement at Chandrawadi (Chandor). They took
the initiative to establish a well-organized system to administer the affairs of the place.

Tribes and migrants, who had come and settled down, certainly left their foot prints in the
socio-economic culture in places where they have settled down. To add to this culture the place
was under the influence of several ancient rulers from the Mauryan times i.e. before the
Christian era. It is reported that King Devaraj was the first known ruler of Bhoja Dynasty of
Chandrapur, now Chandor. It has also been reported that, by the end of 2nd century A.D.
Krishna Satakarni, the brother of the founder of the Sinurka Satakarni dynasty had annexed
Konkan, including the territories of Bhojas of Chandrapur. The place came also under the
several other kings and dynasties.

At the beginning of the Christian era, people from Deccan came and settled down in Goa. They
attacked the Satarhar Gaudes and occupied their villages, under the leadership of Sandraka.
Later Sandraka established his kingdom and dynasty (600 to 900 A.D.).

The Kadambas ruled Goa as feudatories Of Chalukyas of Kalyam (973 to 1008 A. D.). The
Sendraka dynasty was followed by Kadamba dynasty (around 1000 A.D. to 1350A.D.). The
ancient city of Bhojas, namely Chandor, on the bank of river Paroda, was the first capital of
Kadambas.

Thereafter, other dynasties of kings such as Vijayanagar Empire ( 1380-1472 AD), ruled the
place. Those were the periods of prosperity, when trade and commerce had developed
extensively with increasing contacts with the neighbours, mainly Arab countries.

Several Indian rulers started fighting for supremacy of the Western Ocean during this period.
The Muslim invasions started with the rule of Bahamani Kingdom in 1352 A.D. This had
devastating effects over the Kadamba Rule in Goa. Invasions by several medieval rulers
followed until the time of Adilshahi Rulers of Bijapur, between about, 1400 to 1500 A.D.
At that time, there were three strong powers, viz. Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur. Ahmad Nizam
Khan of Ahmednagar and Kutlu Khan of Golconda and all of them agreed to divide their rule
over Deccan. And by 1500 A.D., the Commander of some places that now form part of Goa,
Yusuf Adil Shah, agreed to acknowledge the sovereignty of Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur and,
thus the entire South Konkan, which included Goa, came under the control of Bijapur
Sovereignty. It was a period when the place had good sea going workforce. Plenty of wood and
good craftmanship was available in the place. They could build ships which were appreciated
everywhere. Beetle nut was exported to places such as Aden, Gulf of Cambay and Strait of
Ormuz. In exchange, horses were imported from those places. They were, thereafter, supplied
to Deccan and rulers of various places in south India. In return, the later, used to supply rice,
spices, areca, gold etc.

All the forgoing events show that, throughout the ages, the places that now form part of
State of Goa. including the nearby places, have been contested places by various Indian Rulers
who fought wars to impose their own sovereignty within the areas conquered by them. In fact,
these areas were the most wanted places for maintaining control over the region , due to their
strategic positions.

Reference: Administration: Goa- and Economy (before and after 1962) by Dr. Jose C Almeida,
2013.

• Phases of Portuguese Colonialism - Historical background of Portuguese

Colonialism

By the 13th century AD it was well known that trade commerce and industry had been
extensively developed in Goa with neighbouring countries such as the Arab countries and
China. Goa had a prosperous trading community doing business in gold, silver, spices as well
as activities such as spinning ,textile, masonry, carpentry. An extensive trade of spices and
other products was going on from the east to the west which was monopolised by the Muslim
traders from Arabia.

The Portuguese who were considered in those days as sea going adventurers and even called
as Warriors of the sea made several attempts to set foothold in Goa . They were aware that if
they could reach the shores of the East they could break the monopoly of trade of spices carried
out by the Arabs and derive for themselves huge profits that were being made by the Arabs.
Moreover ,they believed that they had to get in touch with the Christians converted by the
Apostle Thomas in the first century AD and who lived along the west coast of India. These two
main grounds prompted the Portuguese rulers to undertake the discovery of the sea route to
India.

This was finally accomplished when the Portuguese led by Vasco da Gama reached India via
the Cape of Good Hope , and landed in a place 12 kms north of Calicut, on the Malabar coast,
on 20th May 1498. Here they met some Muslims from Tunis and informed them that they had
come in search of Christians and spices. Initially the Portuguese made yearly expbe prosperous
trade , they decided to send permanent expeditions to gain control over these areas and to create
a firm base .

On 7th August 1500 Don Pedro Alvares Cabral, Commander of the 2nd Portuguese fleet landed
in Angediva Island with 1200 men and missionaries. In 1505, the King of Portugal appointed
Dom Francisco Almeida to lead such a mission .He built a fort in Anjediva island which should
be regarded as the beginning of the colonialization process. He was succeeded by Afonso de
Albuquerque. While sailing to India with his fleet , he met Timmayya (Timoja), a disgruntled
subedar in Adil Shah's army on Anjediva island who gave him vital information about the
general disposition of the local Hindus towards their Muslim ruler. Taking advantage of the
disunity that existed among local people and their unhappiness over the tyrannical rule of Adil
Shah and with the help of Timmayya , Afonso de Albuquerque captured Old Goa in 1510.

It took them just twelve years to invade Goa and to settle down on this land of India for about
a period of 450 years. It was the longest rule by any foreign country on the land of Hindustan.
The Dutch, the British and then the French followed them.

Albuquerque knew that Goa was ideally situated between Malabar and Gujarat and had better
facilities for larger ships which could Sail 8 to 10 miles inside from the mouth of the Mandovi
river and formed a good line of defence. Goa dominated the whole shoreline of western India.
Thus in February 1510 the Main Land of Goa-Ilhas and the coastal districts of Bardez in north
and Salcete in the south came under the Portuguese rule for the first time.

Though later, Ismail Adil Shah the successor of Yusuf Adil Shah in a well prepared attack
drove away the Portuguese from Old Goa. While leaving the place they set it on fire, ordered
killing of Muslims and retreated to the Fort Aguada with their men. They were further forced
to leave the fort, and anchored at Anjediva island . Here with more reinforcements of the fleets
and careful planning, Albuquerque was successful in invading Goa again on 25 Nov 1510.
After succeeding Albuquerque tried to gain full control over the place and began to cultivate
friendly relations with Adil Shah . He died in 1515 and was succeeded by Lopo Soares, but by
then the Portuguese had established their foothold in Goa. In the sixteenth century as the
Portuguese expanded the empire and trade, Goa became an important port from where spices
and other goods was sent to the western countries .It is said that travellers of that time used to
describe the city of Old Goa as" Goa Dourado" Golden Goa Later it was also known as "Rome
of the East "as it was a meeting point of trade between the East and West . By1570 it attracted
around a thousand ships every year for the purpose of trade.

Thus by 1543 ,the Portuguese had full control of Bardez and Salcete and along with the city
of Old Goa was referred to as ‘Old Conquests’.This was followed by their rule over Ponda,
Sanguem, Bicholim ,Sanquelim, Quepem and Canacona by 1763. Canacona was given to the
Portuguese, in exchange of help given to the King Sunda against invasions and attacks from
Marathas. Expansion of Portuguese jurisdiction continued gradually. The area of Sattari was
first conquered in 1746 and then reconquered in 1782 .The areas of Bicholim , Pernem and
Sattari were controlled by Bhonsles of Sawantwadi and conquered by Portuguese between
1781 and 1800. These areas were referred to as ‘New conquests’. Later the taluka of Mormugao
was carved out from the taluka of Salcete and the ward covering the port was declared as
Cidade or city of Vasco da Gama on 3rd September 1917.

In the course of consolidation of the Portuguese empire in Goa, the Portuguese rulers had to
confront and withstand several invasions and counter-invasions from various kings and
invaders.

The colonial period of Portuguese rule right from 1510-1961, can be divided into three major
periods. (i) the Monarchical rule from 1510 to 1910, (ii) the period of Republic between 1910-
1926 and (iii) then the dictatorship of Dr. Salazar from 1926 till 1961.
1.Monarchical regime of Portuguese colonialism

Under the Monarchical regime of Portuguese colonialism, Goa witnessed three major events;
(a) conversion of natives to Christianity, (b) Inquisition in 1560 and (c) the establishment of
constitutionalism in Portugal in 1820.

Conversions of the Natives to Christianity:

Although Portuguese were at peace with the Hindus in Goa for about a period of thirty years,
it was on 24th April 1541 a seminar named 'Holy Faith' was established in Tiswadi. And during
this time all the Hindu temples of Tiswadi were demolished by the Portuguese government.
The King of Portugal had enjoined from time to time that proselytization should be based on
free consent and persuasion and should not be effected by compulsion and force. The main
instruments which were responsible for the conversion were the lure of material rewards and
threat of violence and force. Religious conviction played a comparatively minor role in
effecting such conversions. Since this conversion to Christianity started taking place just after
thirty years of Portuguese occupation of Goa it was limited only to the Old Conquest areas
which formed a part of Portuguese colonialism for 450 years. The New Conquests areas which
they had occupied in the 18th century, did not come under its influence. Since the converts
were converted to Christianity by force, and not consent and persuasion, they continued to
adhere in secret to their old faiths and tended to indulge in beliefs and practices that were
heretical from the Christian point of view. The Catholic community of Goa thus came into
being soon after the Portuguese arrived in the early sixteenth century to trade and preach the
gospel.

Inquisition in 1560.

The mass Christianization which was used by the Portuguese to maintain their political
domination in Goa, was followed by the 'Inquisition' in 1560 during the reign of Dom Joao III,
the King of Portugal. It is described as an ecclesiastical tribunal for the suppression of heresy
and punishment of heretics, officially styled 'the holy office'. The first demand for the
establishment of the Inquisition in Goa was made by St. Francis Xavier. It took place in the
erstwhile building known as ‘Palacio de Sabaio’, which was the residence of the Portuguese
Viceroy and Governors. This building was later known as ‘Palacio de Inquisicao’. The
sentences used to be given after the ceremony of Acto de Fe (Act of Faith). It was claimed, in
the name of religion, that such a weapon was necessary to wipe-out not only the superstitions
and local beliefs, but also, to change innocent local usages and customs that were considered
idolatrous. The Tribunal was briefly suspended (1774-1778) by an order of the Portuguese
Ruler and liberal minister of Portugal, Marquez de Pombal. He was against the style of working
of the Jesuit religious order and discouraged any type of discrimination based on race. In 1774
when some of the local priests from Goa complained to him that they were discriminated vis-
a-vis other priests from abroad, he appointed a new Viceroy and a new Archbishop for Goa
and instructed them that the posts in the local administration and military should be filled
without any discrimination of colour or race. However, rule was short lived and the inquisition
was again revived just after five years later in 1778 during the reign of D. Maria, Queen of
Portugal. The Inquisition played a prominent role, both in bringing pressure on the secular
authorities to pass discriminating legislation and in enforcing the measures with characteristic
sternness and severity. This was however the worst period of Portuguese rule that Goa had
witnessed in its life. This Inquisition was finally abolished in the year 1812. The impact of this
conversion and inquisition remained permanently in the life of the natives.
The establishment of constitutionalism in Portugal in 1820.

The French revolution brought about the idea of democratic form of government, the winds of
change that this produced blew over almost the whole continent and Portugal in the corner of
Europe was not left untouched. There was absolute monarchy in Portugal until 1820. The King
and his Council of Minister controlled affairs in India and elsewhere through Governors and
Viceroys. An “India House” located at Lisbon looked after trade, commerce, shipping and
navigation between Portugal and India.

The highest officer sent from Portugal to administer its territories in India was a Governor or
Viceroy. His tenure was three years. He was entrusted with civil, judicial and military authority.
The Governor was assisted by a Secretary of State appointed by the King. He also had an
Advisory Council. It was purely an official body expected to check the autocracy of the
Governor. There were three other councils called Junta da Fazenda, Junta General da Province
and Conselho de Provinca. The fact that Goa was part of the Portuguese empire necessitated
that the Portuguese Constitution and its laws should be applied to the Goan society and this
was done to the extent possible. Goan representatives were elected by the people through a
limited franchise.

Thus, on 26th February 1820 parliamentary system of government was established in Portugal.
Goans too were entitled to elect their representatives to the Portuguese Parliament (Cortes). By
a decree of 18th April 1821, Goa was authorized to elect six members to the Portuguese
Legislative Assembly amidst jubilations and scenes of popular enthusiasm for the first time in
the history of Goa. These included Bernardo Peres da Silva, A. J. de Lima Leitao and
Constancio Roque da Costa. The Parliament in Portugal started functioning in 1833, when the
Liberals gained victory over the Absolutists. During the liberal constitutional regime in Goa
the pattern of parties and Juntas was more or less on the same lines as in Portugal. The two
parties, the Liberals and Absolutists, fought the elections with much violence and bitterness,
coups and countercoups. Moreover, elections in Goa in the 19th century were marked by
continuous attempts on the part of the government to get the electorate into voting for the
government backed candidates. On 20th November, 1854 during the Municipal elections of
Divar, Joaquim Garcez who had been sent to rig the elections in favour of the government
backed candidate, was beaten to death. Similarly, in the year 1890 the government backed
candidate was declared elected in the municipal elections held at Margao under dubious
circumstances. In the re-elections held on 21st September 1890, skirmishes broke out and the
troops posted there, last control and fired indiscriminately at the crowd gathered at the
Municipal square, i.e. the Holy Spirit church square resulting in the death of 23 innocent people
and many others were wounded. The people rose in massive protest against this massacre. This
came to be known as ‘Eleicao Sangrenta de 21 de Setembro de 1890’ (Bloody election of 21st
September 1890). In Goa, the natives were predominant in the Liberal party and the Europeans
in the Absolutists.

However, this liberal attitude could not continue for a long period of time and twice the
Parliament was dissolved first by King Dom Juan and secondly by King Don Minguel in 1823
and 1827 respectively. By then the number of the elected members to Parliament from Goa had
decreased to one. It should be also noted that Hindus and Muslims from Old Conquests and the
people of New Conquests were denied the right to vote . Whatever may be the case, Goa was
represented in the Portuguese Parliament.
In 1835, a local citizen, Mr. Bernardo da Silva was appointed Prefect of Portuguese India with
powers of a Viceroy. He introduced a spate of reforms which benefited the Goans. He started
appointing local people to the highest positions of authority in judiciary and public accounts.
Unfortunately, his rule did not last long. He was deposed within 17 days in February 1935 and
this marked the end of the rule of Goa’s only local Governor.

2. The period Of Republic between 1910-1926.

The revolution that took place in the Portugal in the year 1910 replaced constitutional
Monarchy by that of Republicanism. In 1908 an agent of Carbonaria (the militant organization
in Portugal) murdered King Carlos, Manoel II, left Portugal for London and on 5th October
1910 the Portuguese Republic was proclaimed. The church was separated from the state at least
in theory. The establishment of Republic in Portugal directly influenced the functioning of the
Portuguese government in Goa. A Charter granting autonomy to Portuguese India was
proclaimed in 1917. An Advisory Council was created on 1st July 1918, but the very next day
it was suspended. This enraged the people and their leaders protested vehemently. Luis de
Menezes Braganca, the elected member of the Council, denounced this outrageous act at a
massive rally he addressed at Margao. It was only in 1920, a Council was established with 7
nominated government officials and 11 elected members called the Government Council
(Conselno de Governo). The period of 1910-1926, though a small period in the life of Goa, is
described as a golden period where the differentiation between Portuguese and Goans was
wiped out. The caste difference and religious difference, at least in the eyes of Portuguese
government, was eliminated. Goan natives- especially Hindus started enjoying this period as
they regained their religious freedom. They could now enjoy the full rights of Portuguese
citizenship. Many of them went to Portugal for higher studies and to obtain higher government
posts. They were also involved in forming various organizations, arranging conferences,
meetings, opening schools, libraries, etc. It was during this time the important organizations
such as Pragatik Sangh and Centru Nacionalist Indianu were formed in Goa and Portugal
respectively. However, the period from 1910 to 1926 was the period of great political turmoil
and instability in Portugal. A system of anarchy, indiscipline corruption, assassinations,
arbitrary imprisonments were the order of the day. The Republican period in Portugal saw a
record of nine Presidents, fourty-four governments, twenty-five uprisings, three counter-
revolutionary dictatorships, and finally about 325 bomb incidents.

3. The dictatorship of Dr. Salazar from 1926 till 1961.

Within the period of sixteen years, after the establishment of the Republic in Portugal, Dr.
Salazar established his dictatorship, following another revolution on 28th May 1926. It began
on 28th May 1926 when a military coup headed by General Gomes da Costa who in early June,
with General Carmona and Admiral Mendes Cabecadas, formed an all-powerful triumvirate.
However things in Portugal were not working in the directions, as these leaders wanted them
to.

Around 1928, when the economic and financial position of Portugal was very critical, the
Portuguese government in Lisbon invited Dr. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, a Professor in the
Law University, Coimbra, to take charge as the finance minister of Portugal. Later around 1933
he became the Prime Minister of Portugal and remained in the position till is death in 1973

Dr. Salazar assumed the supremacy of Portugal in his hands, thus becoming a dictator. Firmly
established in 1930 Dr. Salazar announced the formation of the 'New State' patterned on
Mussolini's ideas and promulgated a new constitution and the Colonial Act (Acto Colonial of
1930), which introduced odious racial discrimination and in its Article II declared: "It belongs
to the organic essence of the Portuguese nation to fulfill the historic mission of possessing and
colonizing overseas dominions and of civilizing the native populations which are comprised
their in by using also the moral influence which is granted to them by the 'Patronage of the
East' . This `Acto-colonial' thus denied to Portuguese colonies the right of self-determination.
It asserted the right of Portugal to 'possess' forever its colonial territories. By his military law
he divided Goans into two categories: the assimilated and indigenous.

The Government Council of Goa hardly had any representative character. The Governor
General was entirely dependent upon the ‘Ministro das Colonias’ (Minister of Colonies ) who
supervised the administration in the colonies. The Government Council headed by the
Governor General consisted of 13 members and was merely and advisory body. The council
would endorse the measures taken by the government and it generally carried out its work with
unanimity. Thus it was obvious that the citizens in Portuguese colonies had neither any say in
the legislative proceedings nor any power in the administrator setup.

The year 1937 proved to be the most significant in the history of repression in Goa .The worst
part of this dictatorship was curtailment of all the elementary civil liberties, which Goans had
enjoyed during the Republic.

A number of curbs were imposed upon civil liberties.

1. Severe restrictions on the freedom of Press, right of Speech and assembly

2. No public meeting could be held without prior permission. the holding of a meeting
could be rejected without assigning any reason. holding political meetings was almost
an impossibility. National Union was the only party allowed to function. all other
political parties founded in Portugal or its colonies were termed subversive.
3. Legal, Social and sports organizations were forbidden to hold congregations, although
they had nothing to do with the political or nationalised aspirations.
4. Sign boards in Marathi displayed on institutions, School buildings, houses and shops
were ordered to be repainted in Portuguese
5. All publications subject prior censorship by a special committee appointed by the
Governor General. this committee was headed by the military official who was restored
full powers either to suppress an article sentence or even a word which according to it
was not conducive to the wellbeing of the state.
6. The Governor General was entrusted with powers to force the closure of any printing
press, stoppage of publication and to take any punitive measures against the publisher.
Non compliance would invite the wrath of the government, amounting even to the
suspension of newspapers and heavy fines.
7. Titles of books had to be assessed by the Governor.
8. Deposit by the newspapers.
9. Publications subject to prior censorship.
10. Governor – general entrusted with judicial powers.
11. Editor had to have qualifications.
12. Newspapers from outside were censored specially from British India
13. Censorship on all printed matter ,even a wedding card or an invitation card or a
statement of the annual general body meeting of an organization of a company
14. Any violation of government orders lead to suppression
 15. Right to vote was only on paper. The Portuguese parliament existed only in name for
the virtual endorsement of government policies and actions. The colonies were also
deprived of the right to elect members to the Parliament in Lisbon. This right was
restored in 1945 ,but the representatives were not elected on the basis of adult franchise.
It was an election which was manoeuvred and manipulated by the government.
16. Non-Goans were deprived to chair any function of any organisation in Goa.

• Struggle for Liberation: before 1947

The people of Goa refused to accept the Portuguese rule as the gift of God. They made several
attempts to expel the Portuguese from Goa. The prominent revolts were as follows :

1.Cuncolim Revolt:
The village of Cuncolim and its adjoining villages were acquired by the Portuguese in the year
1543 from Adil Shah of Bijapur. The First revolt against the Portuguese colonialists and the
Roman Catholic Church was in the sixteenth century. In 1575, the people of Cuncolim, Veroda,
Assolna, Velim and Ambelim revolted against the religious persecution of the Portuguese. This
revolt was led by the Gaunkars of Cuncolim. The Hindus who fled from other parts of Salcete
to escape religious persecution took shelter in these villages with their families. They refused
to pay the taxes and recognise the sovereignty of the Portuguese. They rejected the decrees of
the Provincial Council which forbade the exercise of the Hindu religious ceremonies. As a
mark of resentment they killed the bailiff of the lands of Salcete in Assolna in 1575. Portuguese
Chronicler Diogo De Couto called Cuncolim "the leader of rebellions" and abused the people
of Cuncolim for their valiant action. The Revolt of Cuncolim terribly frightened the Portuguese
rulers and the Church functionaries. The colonialists stepped up their cruelty to kill the spirit
of revolt. All the fruit bearing trees were cut down and the orchards owned by the villagers
were destroyed. The "military Chaplins were pulled down and desecrated the principal pagodas
of the village". The Portuguese troops razed to the ground the villages of Assolna and Cuncolim
in 1575. As soon as the troops were withdrawn, the villagers rebuilt their houses and temples.

In July 1583, and uprising took place against forced propagation of Christian faith and
destruction of local temples. When five Jesuit priests accompanied by one European and 14
Indian Christians, in obedience to the Papal order went to Cuncolim on 26th of July 1583 with
an objective to erect across and select the ground to build a church, a crowd of people
(gaonkars) with weapons approached and killed all of them, when they decided to address
them. Angry Portuguese quickly retaliated by executing the leaders of the Goankars and
confiscating their land. Colonial Government ultimately gifted the villages of Cuncolim and
Veroda to Senhor Joao Da Silva and his descendants and Assolna, Velim and Ambelim to a
nobleman called Dom Pedro de Castro. The people of these villages opposed the conversion of
Jesuits tooth and nail to preserve their faith .

2. Pinto Revolt:
One of the most interesting revolts against the Portuguese is known as Pinto Rebellion of 1787.
It was again due to the racial tensions that gave rise to the conspiracy of 1787, which is famous
as 'Revolt of the Pintos'. This conspiracy was masterminded by the two priests namely Caetano
Franscisco do Couto and Jose Antonio Gonsalves who were denied the important posts in the
church and who hated the Portuguese colonialism as intensely as other nationalists. This revolt
had confirmed the conviction that it was a social, political and racial uprising and Goan native
priests and laymen saw no hope of promotions based on merit in Portuguese colonial set-up.
The essence of the revolt was the denial of opportunity to local priests to become Bishops.
Though possessing the requisite qualifications they were both denied post as bishops although
2 positions had fallen vacant. Both of them left for Portugal in 1781 to present their case before
the concerned authorities but in the atmosphere then prevailing in Portugal due to the terror
unleashed by Pinan Minaque, the said clerics were not able to make any headway. While in
Lisbon they came in contact with Jose Antonio Pinto’s family of Candolim and Fr. Vitorino
Faria, the father of the renowned Abbe Faria. They return to Goa disappointed but firm in their
stand that the need of the hour was to rise up in arms against the Portuguese and free Goa from
their rule. They were able to obtain approval for their plans from relatives, friends and
acquaintances. They won over support of several officers of the Bardez and Ponda legions. The
conspirators used to hold meetings in the palatial mansion of the Pintos at Candolim which
later came to be known as ‘Palacio de Conspiracao’. 10th August 1787 was set as the date for
the revolt. But they said revolt never saw the light of the day. On 5th August five days before
the deadline, a clerk at the Aldona Communidade, Antonio Jose Toscano disclosed the plans
of the conspirators. At first the Portuguese Governor Cunha e Menezes attached no importance
to the disclosure . But later the authorities swooped down on the conspirators. 47 were arrested
and placed behind bars. Of these 17 were priests and 7 were military officers .Criminal
proceedings were conducted. Three priests were later released and the rest were banished to
Portugal. They were imprisoned in the fortress of Sao Juliao de Barra, where some ended their
days others being pardoned were allowed to return to India in 1807. Of the arrested laymen,
fifteen were sentenced to death, five to exile and five to hard labour. Among those who got
death sentences, one of them was Manuel Pinto of the Pinto family of Candolim. They were
first tied to the tails of horses and dragged through the streets of the city. Later their hands were
chopped off and they were hanged. After death, their bodies were quartered. Their heads were
fixed on stakes and were on displayed at public places for days together where they were
allowed to rot. This was nothing but an effort of the Portuguese government to strike terror in
the hearts of the people of Goa so that they should never in future raise the banner of revolt
.The Pinto revolt indicated that even indoctrination by highly organised Church could not
destroy the spirit of nationalism.

3. Rane Revolts: 1752-1897

The Ranes were feudal chieftains from Sattari who had severed ties with the Bhonsles of
Sawantwadi and had accepted Portuguese citizenship on the understanding that they would be
able to retain their manorial or feudal rights. Originally the Ranes had migrated from Rajasthan
to Sattari under the leadership of Sotrigi Rane and taken control over some of the land from
Satari. During the 17th century, the Ranes served the Portuguese rulers as mercenaries. in
exchange for the services rendered by them in defending the northern borders that were under
the control of the Portuguese rulers, they were granted some land in the villages of Nadora,
Revora and Pirna, On payment of foro ( annual rent), as per the provisions of law. In the course
of time, The Portuguese rulers started exercising increased control over the land granted to the
Ranes, especially in the matter of policy of leasing and subleasing the said land to outsiders
and regulating the system of clearance of forests. Portuguese did not keep to their side of the
earlier agreement, a protracted struggle started between the Ranes and the Portuguese that
spanned over a period of about one and half century. This struggle came to be identified as the
Rane revolts, starting from 1752.

The Dipaji Rane Revolt 1852 :

Predominant among these was the revolt led by Dipaji Rane in 1852. In 1851 the Portuguese
government passed orders imposing a tax on the hereditary estates of the landlords that were
previously tax free. Besides, the Hindus under compulsion to use western clothes. The
celebration of festivals, use of palanquins during processions, the applying of kum kum to the
forehead and the setting up of Tulsi Vrindavan In front of the house was disallowed. This
aroused angry reactions not only among the Ranes of Sattari, but among the general Hindus
particularly in the new conquest areas. When the Portuguese government paid no heed to the
protests issued, The banner of revolt was raised under the leadership of Dipaji Rane on 26th
January 1852. He captured the Fort of Nanuz on the banks of the Mhadei river in Satari. The
Portuguese made efforts to curb the uprising but instead it spread to Sanguem and Quepem. He
successfully drove the Portuguese out of Sattari And also liberated Quepem, Canacona and
Bicholim from Portuguese rule. For the maintenance of his large force Dipaji looted the
government treasury and also demanded money from the rich but he never troubled the poor.
He defended his territory by fighting guerrilla warfare. When all attempts by the Portuguese to
suppress this revolt failed the Governor himself set out with a large army and still failed to
capture Dipaji. Finally in 1855 the Portuguese government signed a treaty with Dipaji .
According to the agreement the Portuguese agreed to protect all the rights of the village
councils, and withdraw all religious restrictions. They also agreed to provide seed and
agricultural implements for the farmers . They also agreed to raise a small unit of Marathas of
Sattari with a view of keeping up the martial and military spirit of the people. They also agreed
to grant pardon to all who had participated in the revolt. Dipaji was honoured with a dress and
the sword with the title of Captain. This was the first successful struggle of the Ranes for their
rights. Unfortunately this friendly relationship did not last for long.

Kushtoba Rane Revolt 1869:

The second Rane revolt took place in 1869. This was led by Kushtoba Rane of the Saleli family.
For nearly 2 years he unleashed reign of terror where in police stations and outposts were
targeted. He was helped by other families, particularly one Shamba Desai. They harassed the
rich for money. The government made plans to arrest him and finally on 13th June 1879 he
was shot dead when coming out of his house.

Dada Rane Advaikar Revolt 1895:

The 3rd Rane revolt took place around 1895 as there was discontentment in Sattari over a
system of cultivation that was introduced in Sattari where by the benefits of cultivation were
enjoyed by the contractor and not the cultivator. The reason for discontentment was a decree
issued in August 1895 where in a platoon of about 420 soldiers were required to proceed to
Mozambique to put down a revolt of African tribes. The Hindu soldiers were unhappy about it
for crossing the seas was considered to be an anti-Hindu act. and made them impure. Some
soldiers moved out of the Panjim barracks and joined hands with the farmers of sattari in a
revolt against the Portuguese. Dada Rane Advaikar was the leader of this revolt. They attacked
and captured the Fort of Halarna in Sattari, then moved to Bicholim and arrested Alfred
Monteiro who was in charge of the area. They then marched to Mapusa and later to Fort
Aguada. On receiving the news that Dada Rane had captured the Fort of Aguada and was
planning an attack on Panjim, the Portuguese authorities set up walls and barricades around it.
The people of Panjim were terrified, some moved to Vasco, others even too far of Belgaum.
The rebels also carried out their attacks in Ponda, Canacona and Sanguem. Faced with
humiliation the Portuguese government was compelled to enter into a peace treaty. The Ranes
were restored their former rights and privileges. The rebels were pardoned.
Lt Bastos e Silva, Commandment of Sattari was assassinated for his attempts to hurt the
religious feelings of the Hindus. In connection with his death Dada Rane was summoned by
the authorities. Though he insisted that he was innocent he was arrested and kept in custody at
the Aguada Fort jail. Later a military court sentenced him to 28 years of imprisonment. He was
deported along with others to Timor in 1902, when he passed away in 1909.
Once again 2 years after the proclamation of the Republican regime in Portugal the Ranes
revolted again in 1912. This time it was because of the increase in taxes. The Portuguese
mercilessly put down the revolt and deported all the leaders of the revolt to Africa.

• Struggle for Liberation: The last phase

Although the resistance to the Portuguese might have begun soon after their entry into Goa in
1510, it was manifested in an organised manner later in the form of the revolt of the people of
Assolna, Velim and Cuncolim in 1583, followed by the Pinto revolt of 1787 and the Rane
revolts. However, the Goan freedom movement in its true sense is said to have commenced in
the 1920s.

The Beginnings: Early 20th Century

The abolition of the Portuguese monarchy in 1910 raised hopes that the colonies would be
granted self-determination; however, when Portuguese colonial policies remained unchanged,
an organised and dedicated anti-colonial movement emerged. Luís de Menezes Bragança
founded O Heraldo, the first Portuguese language newspaper in Goa, which was critical of
Portuguese colonial rule. In 1917, the "Carta Organica" law was passed, overseeing all civil
liberties in Goa.
In reaction to growing dissent, the Portuguese government in Goa implemented policies which
curtailed civil liberties, including censorship of the press. Strict censorship policies required
any material containing printed words, including invitation cards, to be submitted to a
censorship committee for screening.
The Portuguese Governor of Goa was empowered to suspend publication, close down printing
presses and impose heavy fines on newspapers which refused to comply with these policies.
Many Goans criticised the curtailing of press freedoms, stating that the only newspapers and
periodicals the Portuguese permitted them to publish were pro-colonialist propaganda
materials.
Menezes Bragança organised a rally in Margao denouncing the law and, for some time, the
Goans received the same rights as mainland Portuguese. However, the Portuguese Catholic
Church strongly supported pro-colonial policies and attempted to influence Goan Christians to
oppose the independence movement. The Portuguese Patriarch of the Catholic Church in Goa
issued over 60 official letters to the priests of the archdiocese, instructing them to preach to
their congregations that salvation lay with the Portuguese and in dissociating themselves from
cultural-political relationship with the rest of India.

In 1928, the Goa Congress committee was founded at Margao, under the leadership of Tristao
Braganza Cunha. It was Goa’s first nationalist organization. It was recognised by the Indian
National Congress thereby linking Goa's freedom struggle with that of India. T B Cunha was
called the father of Goan nationalism. In May 1930, Portugal passed the "Acto Colonial"
(Colonial Act), which restricted political rallies and meetings within all Portuguese colonies.
The introduction of this act politically relegated Goa to the status of a colony. The Portuguese
also introduced a policy of compulsory conscription in Portuguese India, which contributed
significantly to growing resentment against the colonial government. The Portuguese
government pressured the Indian National Congress to disaffiliate the National Congress (Goa);
In 1934 the Indian National Congress decided to confined its activities to British India and
subsequently derecognised its Goa branch. In 1938, Goans in Bombay city formed the
Provisional Goa Congress.
Arrival of Ram Manohar Lohia and the Civil Liberties Movement
For a long time Goans were suppressed and denied civil liberties. The first reaction to this
condition in Goa came in 1946. It began with the visit of Ram Manohar Lohia who was invited
by his friend Dr. Juliao Menezes to stay at his house at Assolna. Dr Julião Menezes studied in
Goa and after finishing Lyceum, (Portuguese high school) he attended Berlin University in the
1920s and graduated in medicine – MD. He also took courses in Indology in Berlin. It was
there that he met Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, who was studying at the same University. Dr. Ram
Manohar Lohia and Dr Julião Menezes remained in contact and Dr. Menezes even provided
him shelter after the ‘Do or Die’ call given by Mahatma Gandhi. It is believed that Dr. Lohia
wanted to hide in Goa but decided against it following counselling by Dr. Menezes who was
worried that British agents were active in Goa as well.
The two met again in 1946 after Dr. Lohia’s release from prison in Lahore where he was taken
after his arrest in Mumbai. Dr. Lohia had visited Dr. Menezes for a medical examination in
Bombay where the latter advised the former that he rest and invited him to his house in Assolna,
Goa. Accepting the invitation, Dr. Lohia arrived in Goa on 10 June 1946 and stayed at the
residence of Menezes at Assolna, where the two stalwarts discussed the situation prevailing in
Goa during that period and decided to defy the ban on public meetings imposed by the
Portuguese Government. This was the first civil disobedience movement against the then 435-
year-old Portuguese rule. The news of Lohia’s arrival spread among Goans and Dr. Menezes’
place in Assolna became the meeting place for Goan intellectuals and political activists, who
wanted to consult Dr. Lohia and Dr. Menezes.
Dr Lohia decided to start direct action against the ban on civil liberties buy organising public
protest meetings at Panjim and Margao. On 15th June 1946, Dr. Menezes and Dr. Lohia
addressed a gathering of the people in Panjim but the police did not intervene and stop the
meeting even as they were posted at the place where the meeting took place. Buoyed with the
success of the meeting, the two entered Margao square in a horse carriage. On 18th June 1946
with thousands of men and women had gathered at Margao shouting slogans and defying the
law.( 18th June is commemorated at Kranti Din in Goa) After halting at a nearby hotel, at around
4:15 pm Dr. Lohia and Dr Menezes proceeded towards the Municipal building, the venue of
the meeting. On reaching there Dr Lohia started addressing the crowd . Dr. Lohia and Dr.
Menezes were immediately arrested and taken to the Margao police station .The colonial
administration, which was caught off guard, failed to subdue the fervour of the crowd. Julião
and Lohia were arrested and removed at the dead of night to the Panjim police station. The
news of their arrest spread throughout Goa, and the people demonstrated in most of the towns.
In Margão, next morning, the citizens drove in procession, and in the evening, they gathered in
front of the Municipality. Even though the troops sought to disperse the crowd, they squatted
resolutely on the ground, shouting in unison at the top of their voices, which resounded
throughout the town
In the end that day, Dr Julião Menezes was released and Dr Lohia was driven outside of Goa
and released at Collem. Their arrest at this demonstration motivated people to hold large-scale
protests in support of the independence movement. There were clashes between the Goans
including students demanding for their rights. Dr Lohia had threatened that if Goans were not
granted civil liberties within 3 months he would return to Goa. He came back in September
1946 but was arrested at the borders of Goa and imprisoned at Fort Aguada for 10 days after
which he was released. Dr. Lohia however continued his struggle for the Goans from Belgaum.
At Londa, Goan political workers met to draw up a plan for the future course of action along
Gandhian lines. This lead to a series of satyagrahas from October 1946 onwards. It was called
the Jai Hind movement. Accordingly the first group offered satyagraha on 18th October 1946.
This was followed by 8 groups at different times, the last of which offered satyagraha on 20th
December 1946. Though the satyagraha was peaceful but the government used harsh measures
to stop them. Satyagrahis were arrested put on trial in special Courts and sent as prisoners to
other Portuguese colonies including Africa and Portugal. Over 1,500 Goans go arrested during
this. And subjected to varying terms of police detention. Goan leaders, including Bragança
Cunha, Purushottam Kakodkar and Laxmikant Bhembre were deported to Portugal,
P.P.Shirodkar to Angola for their participation in the independence protests
With the arrest of the leadership, much of the momentum of the movement was lost and,
subsequently, the Goa Congress began to operate from Bombay.
During the mid-1940s, a number of new political parties emerged in Goa, each having a
conflicting agenda and perspective in relation to achieving Goan independence and autonomy.
These political parties advocated for vastly different policies including Goa's merger with
Maharashtra state, Goa's merger with the southern Indian state of Karnataka, independent
statehood for Goa and autonomy within Portuguese rule.
Mahatma Gandhi sensed that an independence movement with such disparate perspectives
would be ineffective and could undermine the struggle for independence; hence, Gandhi
suggested that the various independence factions should attempt to unite under the broad guise
of civil liberties. In response to Gandhi's suggestion, the different Goan political factions met
in Bombay in June 1947 to formally launch a campaign demanding that the Portuguese
government "quit India". The Goan leadership believed that with the end of British colonial
occupation, an end to Portuguese colonial occupation would logically follow. However, on 3
August 1947, Lohia announced that Goa's independence would not coincide with Indian
national independence and that the Goans would have to continue their struggle, "not just for
civil liberties, but for freedom itself".

After 1947
Alarmed at the declaration of India's independence In 1947, Portugal instructed the Goa
government to introduce measures to ameliorate the economic and social conditions of the
people. In order to win support the mining industry was promoted in the 1950s. The miners
and traders who saw their fortunes were linked with the Portuguese government backed it. The
years of 1947 to 1950 were of despondency for the people of Goa. They had felt that once
independence was granted to British India, it would soon come to Portuguese India. Instead the
Portuguese increased the military strength and defence preparations.
The Goans however, did form number of political organisations like National Congress Goa,
Azad Gomantak Dal, Goa Liberation Council, Goa People's Party and The United front of
Goans Some of them you are based in Bombay. These organisations had a number of
publications which drew international attention including that of the United nations to the
matter of Goa liberation.
Following Indian independence, a separate demand for independence was raised by Dr.
Froilano de Mello, a prominent Goan microbiologist and MP in the Portuguese National
Assembly. De Mello sought independence for Goa, Daman and Diu as autonomous state
entities within the framework of a Portuguese commonwealth, similar to the British
Commonwealth.

Demand for autonomy

Within Goa and Portugal, periodic demands for autonomy for Portuguese India continued. In
July 1946, a public meeting was held which openly petitioned the Salazar administration to
grant autonomy to the Estado da India. The meeting was facilitated by José Inácio de Loyola,
and inspired the formation of a committee chaired by Uday Bhembre to pursue autonomy.
Bhembre's committee failed to provoke a response from the Portuguese administration, and
subsequently the last demand for autonomy was made by Purushottam Kakodkar in early 1961.
Establishment of Revolutionary groups:

National Congress Goa

The National Congress Goa was born in London in 1946 with Dr Ram Hegde as its President
Concerted efforts were made to build up this organization in the initial early stages of its
existence. In 1951 the office of the National Congress Goa was shifted to Bombay and in 1953
Peter Alvares was elected as its President .This organization did commendable work outside
Goa, but he party was eager to conduct political activities on Goan soil. Peter Alvarezs
organised several meetings which were often attended by Gopal Apa Kamat, Pandurang
Mulgaonkar, Dr. Jose Francisco Martins Francisco Martins, Guilherme Souza Ticlo and Dr
Pundalik Gaitonde.

Azad Gomantak Dal

The Azad Gomantak Dal was essentially an underground movement. Azad Gomantak Dal, a
revolutionary group, vowed to fight the Portuguese using direct action strategies. Azad
Gomantak Dal was founded in April 1947 by Vishwanath Lawande, Narayan Hari Naik,
Dattatraya Deshpande, Prabhakar Sinari who along with their other friends carried out series
of attacks on Portuguese police stations and banks . It resorted to guerrilla warfare. It gave
military training to its members and from time to time, seized arms and ammunition from
Portuguese arsenals in Goa . Its outstanding achievement was the Liberation of Dadra and
Nagar Haveli from the Portuguese rule in 1954. They also started the Azad Goa radio to counter
the anti-Goa liberation and anti-Indian propaganda by the Portuguese government.

The Azad Gomantak Dal became perennial source of nightmares for the Portuguese rulers.
They were compelled to deploy military guards in daily Rail Service from Murmugao to
Collem. Track from Collem to Caranzol was regularly patrolled only by the white officers of
the Portuguese armed forces camped at Collem. Portuguese Police Force trembled at the very
thought of the Dal. The Dal was eminently successful in creating problems for the colonialists.
It planted bombs to destroy rail and road bridges and even killed personnel of Portuguese armed
forces. Azad Gomantak Dal was heartily supported by the people of Goa. Its members received
shelter and all other help in cash and kind. To crush the Dal the Portuguese brutally killed many
of its young members. But most of them were sentenced to 28–29 years of imprisonment in
exile by the Portuguese courts. Narayan Naik and Dattatraya Deshpande suffered about 14
years of imprisonment in prisons in Portugal and Angola, however they were released after
annexation of Goa. Vishwanath Lawande and Prabhakar Sinari managed to escape the prisons
and continued their armed struggle against the Portuguese rule by forming huge armed force
of anti-colonial fighters with headquarter on Goa India border at Vazarem. Azad Gomantak
Dal successfully carried out raids on police stations and factories, ambushed military patrols,
attacked troops stationed at the border and blew up ammunition dumps. It blasted Sesa Goa's
Sonshi mine, which caused temporary suspension of the mining activity of the Portuguese.The
Goa Liberation Army was credited with many other blasts and raids, and played a pivotal role
in defending the bridges at the time of Indian invasion.
Main drawback of Azad Gomantak Dal appears to be lack of leadership with vision. If the Dal
had cared to build up a strong organisation and intensified its activities in consistent manner
on all borders of Goa, the Portuguese would have found it extremely difficult to have peaceful
administration of Goa; and it might have become free much before 1961 and that too without
the military action. However, in response to the group's revolutionary tactics, the Portuguese
increased their military presence by bringing in white and African troops to quell the
insurgency.
Second phase of Satyagraha (1954-1955)

In 1953, Tristão de Bragança Cunha formed the Goa Action Committee to coordinate the
various anti-colonial groups working independently in Mumbai. Goans and non-Goans offered
Satyagraha in solidarity with the struggle.
In Goa, the anti-colonial movement had evolved into two camps, which advocated distinct anti-
colonial strategies. The National Congress Goa utilised peaceful satyagraha tactics, while Azad
Gomantak Dal advocated revolutionary methods.
Meanwhile in 1954 Dr. Pundalik Gaitonde was arrested for protesting against a speech made
at a party that Goa was a part of Portugal. He was deported to Portugal where he underwent a
trial before the Military Tribunal at Lisbon. The incident sparked off a series of protest
meetings in Goa. In June 1954, over 75 well known Goans were arrested as a measure against
the impending satyagraha.
The stage was set for the satyagraha of August 1954. About 4000 to 6000 persons were
expected to participate in it. The Portuguese authorities did their best to disrupt the proposed
satyagraha. They called for reinforcements and sealed the borders. The troops were issued
orders to shoot at sight. Bridges were blasted and trenches were dug. Rail and ferry services
were stopped.
On 15 August 1954, thousands of satyagrahis were prevented from entering Goa. Despite this
3 bands of unarmed satyagrahis entered Goa via Pollem, Tirekhol and Patradevi under the
leadership of Anthony D'souza, Alfred Afonso and Mark Fernandes respectively. At Tirekhol
a group of satyagrahis entered the Fort and hoisted the flag. Later the Portuguese recovered the
Fort and took them into custody. The leaders of the satyagraha underwent trials and were
sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.
Goa's freedom movement was carried on mainly by Goans, but the brutalities and severe
sentences of the Portuguese moved fellow Indians all over the country. Mass satyagraha was
organised inside Goa by the people of Pernem, Parcem, Quepem, Zambaulim, Loliem and
Poinguinim.

A year later, another protest was organised on the same date. The Jana Sangh leader, from
Karnataka Kesari Jagannathrao Joshi, led 3,000 protesters including women, children and
Indians from Maharashtra state, through the Goa border. The security forces baton charged the
protesters and opened fire on the satyagrahis, resulting in several deaths and hundreds of
injuries.

Satyagraha of 1955
In 1954, the Goa Vimochan Sahayak Samiti (All-Party Goa Liberation Committee), was
formed with the aim of continuing the civil disobedience campaign and providing financial and
political assistance to the satyagrahis, with its headquarters in Pune. The Samiti used to conduct
mass meetings all over India. On 18th may 1955 a group of volunteers lead by Senapati Bapat
and N G Gore made attempts to forcibly enter Goa to offer satyagraha. Their movement was
checked by the Portuguese police who fired at them and made immediate arrests. The Goa
Vimochan Samiti decided to launch a mass movement on 15th August 1955. It's appeal to
various political parties of India for support and assistance met with overwhelming response.
On the scheduled day there was much tension along the borders of Goa. About 4000 people
including women participated in this movement. They came from Gujarat, Maharashtra
Karnataka and even parts of Kashmir, Bengal and Punjab. At Patradevi more than 500
satyagraha tried to enter Goa. The Portuguese police opened fire and many fell victim to the
Portuguese bullets. Other groups of satyagraha crossed the Goa borders at Tirekhol and Castle
Rock.
The National Congress Goa too played a significant role in 1955. It's President Peter Alvares
lead a batch of volunteers who offered satyagraha at Castle Rock. On 26th of January 1955, he
was chargesheeted by the Portuguese and convicted, in absentia to 18 years imprisonment on
6th April 1955. The National Congress appealled to the people not to pay taxes and hold
celebrations to boycott law courts and lawyers as a strategy to undermine the Portuguese rule
in Goa.

The Maharashtra and Gujarat chapters of the Praja Socialist Party assisted the liberation
committee, motivated by an agenda for independent Goa to merge into Maharashtra state. The
liberation committee and the Praja Socialist Party collaboratively organised several satyagrahas
in 1954–55.

• The Goa Question

When India became independent in 1947 there was the question of the presence of foreign
enclaves particularly French and Portuguese colonies in India. While France was ready to settle
the issue amicably, Portugal was reluctant to give up it's hold on Portuguese India. Pandit Nehru
repeatedly stressed on the integration of Goa with India . He however believed in the use of
negotiations and peaceful methods to achieve this goal.
In December 1947, independent India and Portugal established diplomatic ties. In January
1948, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru met the Portuguese consul and raised the issue
of Goa's integration into the Indian Union. The Portuguese, who valued their strategic Indian
colonial outposts, were unwilling to negotiate.
In January 1953, the Indian delegation in Portugal (a representative body of the Indian
government), sought to negotiate with Portugal on the issue of its territories in India. The Indian
government offered a direct transfer; however, the Portuguese refused and diplomatic relations
between the two countries deteriorated. On 11 June 1953, the Indian delegation in Lisbon was
closed and diplomatic ties were formally severed.
Subsequently, India launched a campaign through the UN in an attempt to persuade the
Portuguese to leave India peacefully. Negotiations were on to get the Portuguese to leave their
territories in India. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit raised the issue at the United nations and Pandit
Nehru in the Indian Parliament, but Salazar refused to oblige and he upheld that these
territories were an integral part of Portugal.

As Portugal was a member of NATO, the Indian government was reticent to react to the
situation. NATO member nations had a pact to protect each other in the event that any member
state came under attack from an external force. Although the NATO treaty did not cover
colonies, Portugal insisted that its overseas interests were not colonies but an integral part of
the Nation of Portugal. Hence, in order for India to avoid NATO involvement in Goa, the Indian
government was impeded from speaking out against Portugal's response to satyagraha protest
actions. The Portuguese government appealed to various international powers, charging India
with violation of Portugal's territorial sovereignty due to the actions of the Satyagrahis in
crossing Portuguese Goan borders. Nehru was subsequently pressured to announce that India
formally disapproved of the Satyagrahis. Nehru's denouncement of the Satyagraha severely
impacted the independence movement.

The attitude of the Government of India in the face of Portuguese repressive measures was a
setback to the Goa liberation movement. However nothing could prevent the mass satyagraha
of 1955. Hundreds of meetings were organised even after 1955 by various Goan political
parties in Bombay. In 1956 hundreds of prominent Goans signed a manifesto calling upon the
Portuguese to leave India. In the same year the Goan Political Convention was formed under
Aloysius Soares. It played an active role in moulding national and international public opinion
against the Portuguese regime and in seeking support of the Afro-Asian nations and the anti-
colonial people in the world to eliminate the last vestiges of colonialism in India.

Next it attempted an economic blockade of Goa in 1955. Restrictions were imposed on money
export to Goa which caused problems as Portuguese India used the currency of the Indian
union. The Reserve Bank of India refused to transfer money to Burma for the purchase of rice
for Goa. Trade and commerce between Goa India came to a standstill. Remittance of Goan
immigrants in India were prevented from entering Goa. The export of foodstuffs another
essential commodities from India was also prohibited besides transhipment of arms and
ammunition to Goa, Daman and Diu via India was also stopped.
Roads linking Goa, daman and Diu with India were blocked and rail links were also cut off.
No ship carrying cargo to Goa could touch the ports in India. Restrictions were also imposed
on post and telegraphic communications including censorship of mail.
Though the blockage caused hardships it made little impact on the Portuguese Indian economy.
The Portuguese government imported goods from Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
and even from Portuguese Africa. This neutralised the ill effects of the economic blockade.
Eventually, Pandit Nehru on the persuasion of his defence minister VK Krishna Menon
accepted the idea of using force to free Goa from the foreign regime.

• Annexation of Goa: Operation Vijay

After failure of diplomacy with the Portuguese, Government of India ordered the Indian Armed
Forces to take Goa by force. After India's independence from the British in August 1947,
Portugal continued to hold a handful of enclaves on the Indian subcontinent—the districts Goa,
Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli —collectively known as the Estado da India.
The Government of India formulated a plan called ‘Operation Vijay’ to liberate the Portuguese
colonies in India and General Chaudhari was kept in charge of carrying out this operation. The
operation involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours and was a decisive victory for
India ending 451 years of Portuguese rule.
The engagement lasted two days, and twenty-two Indians and thirty Portuguese were killed in
the fighting. By December 11th ,1961 the Indian forces were stationed at Belgaum, Vapi and
Una for attacks on Goa, Daman and Diu respectively. The operations against Goa were directed
by Major General Kunhiraman Palat Candeth. It was planned to advance into Goa mainly from
the north and east and the attack from the South was meant to divert attention. 18th December
1961 was was the day fixed for the attack. The advance on all fronts was to begin
simultaneously. To facilitate the movement of the Indian army, the two main land rules
connecting Goa and India was sealed for civilian population on 12th December 1961.
On 11 December 1961, 17th Infantry Division and attached troops of the Indian Army were
ordered to advance into Goa to capture Panaji and Mormugao. Although the 50th Para Brigade
was charged with merely assisting the main thrust conducted by the 17th Infantry, its units
moved rapidly across minefields, roadblocks and four riverine obstacles to be the first to reach
Panaji.
As planned the Indian troops moved into Goa demand and do at the break of dawn on 18th
December 1961. On the morning of 18 December, the 50th Para Brigade of the Indian Army
moved into Goa in three columns.
-The eastern column comprised the 2nd Para Maratha advanced towards the town of Ponda in
central Goa via Usgão.
-The central column consisting of the 1st Para Punjab advanced towards Panaji via the village
of Banastari.
-The western column—the main thrust of the attack—comprised the 2nd Sikh Light Infantry as
well as an armoured division which crossed the border at 06:30 advanced on Tivim.

After an intense resistance the Portuguese troops, realising their diminishing control decided
to withdraw from their positions in Ponda and Mapusa. Just after the retreat of its forces, the
Portuguese destroyed the bridge at Banastarim, cutting off all road links to Panaji.
The Indian tanks had reached Betim, just across the Mandovi River from Panaji, without
encountering any opposition. The 2nd Sikh Light Infantry joined it by 21:00, crossing over
mines and demolished bridges en route. In the absence of orders, the unit stayed at Betim for
the night.
At 20:00, a Goan by the name of Gregório Magno Antão crossed the Mandovi River from
Panaji and delivered a ceasefire offer letter from Major Acácio Tenreiro of the Portuguese
Army to Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu, the commanding officer of the Indian 7th
Calvalry camped there.
The same night Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu with a force of the 7th Cavalry decided to take
Fort Aquada and obtain its surrender, after receiving information that a number of supporters
of the Indian Republic were held prisoners there. However, the Portuguese defenders of the
fort had not yet received orders to surrender and responded by opening fire on the Indian forces,
Major Sidhu and Captain Vinod Sehgal being killed in the firefight.
The order for Indian forces to cross the Mandovi River was received on the morning of 19
December, upon which two rifle companies of the 2nd Sikh Light Infantry advanced on Panaji
at 07:30 and secured the town without facing any resistance. Fort Aguada was also captured on
that day, when the Indian 7th Cavalry attacked with assistance from the armoured division
stationed at Betim and freed its political prisoners.
Meanwhile, in the east, the Indian forces linked up at the border town of Mollem and then
advanced by separate routes to Ponda. By nightfall, the 2nd Bihar had reached the town of
Candeapur, while the 3rd Sikh had reached Darbondara. Although neither column had
encountered any resistance, their further progress was hampered because all bridges spanning
the river had been destroyed.
The forces which which reached Candeapar in the early hours of 19 December, and not to be
bogged down by the destruction of the Borim bridge, went across the Zuari river in their
military tankers and then waded through chest-high water across a small stream to reach a dock
in the village of Raia from where a road connects to Margao, the administrative centre of
southern Goa. From here, the column advanced towards the harbour of Mormugão. En route
they encountered fierce resistance from a 500-strong Portuguese unit at the village of Verna.
The Portuguese unit surrendered at 15:30 after fierce fighting, and the 4th Sikh then proceeded
to Mormugão and Dabolim Airport, where the main body of the Portuguese Army awaited the
Indians.]]
By the evening of 18 December, most of Goa had been overrun by advancing Indian forces,
and a large party of more than two thousand Portuguese soldiers had taken position at the
military base at the entrance to the port town of Vasco da Gama. The defending forces were to
make their last stand at the harbour, holding out against the Indians until Portuguese naval
reinforcements could arrive. Orders delivered from the Portuguese President called for a
scorched earth policy—that Goa was to be destroyed before it was given up to the Indians.
Despite his orders from Lisbon, Governor General Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva took stock
of the numerical superiority of the Indian troops, as well as the food and ammunition supplies
available to his forces and took the decision to surrender. Thus the destruction of Goa was
averted. the people of Goa welcome the liberation of Goa by the Indian army with great
enthusiasm.
The Government of India got timely assistance from two nations that is the United Arab
Republic refused passage through the Suez canal to a Portuguese ship carrying reinforcements
to India. Ceylon or Sri Lanka closed all its ports and airports to prevent the transport of troops,
ammunition and supplies to the Portuguese in Goa
The official Portuguese surrender was conducted in a formal ceremony held at 2030 hours on
19 December when Governor General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva signed the instrument
of surrender bringing to an end 451 years of Portuguese Rule in Goa. In all, 4,668 personnel
were taken prisoner by the Indians—a figure which included military and civilian personnel,
Portuguese, Africans and Goan.
Upon the surrender of the Portuguese governor general, Goa, Daman and Diu was declared a
federally administered Union Territory placed directly under the President of India, and Major-
General K. P. Candeth was appointed as its Military Governor. The war had lasted two days,
and had cost 22 Indian and 30 Portuguese lives. On 8 June 1962, military rule was replaced by
civilian government when the Lieutenant Governor nominated an informal Consultative
Council of 29 nominated members to assist him in the administration of the territory.

•
Contribution of T B Cunha
Tristao de Braganza e Cunha a Goan Patriot hailed as the “Father of Goan Nationalism” was
born on 2nd April 1981 in Chandor, the ancient capital of Kadambas. His Father Dr. Ligorio
de Cunha was a prominent medical practitioner. On completing his primary education in
Portuguese, he joined the Portuguese Lyceum for his secondary school education. But the
pompous & unimaginative methods of teaching there disillustioned young Tristao so much
that he made up his mind to give up his Portuguese studies. On convincing his parents about
his interest in learning French, he proceded to Pondicherry, a former French colony where he
sought admission in a French College & obtained his BA Degree. From there he sailed to Paris
to join Sorbourne University where he took a Degree in Electrical Engineering. For a while he
made his living as an Engineer in France in early 1920’s.
In 1926 when Dr Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was yet to make his debute on the political stage
of Portugal, T.B. Cunha returned to Goa after 14 years from Paris and gave up his career on
Electrical engineer & engrossed himself totally in Politics & Political writings. On being back
in his motherland he tried to identify himself with the Nationalist movements which was going
on in the mainland India & he did not desire to initiate a separate movement exclusively for
the freedom of Goa Daman & Diu. He believed that Goa being a part of India Goa’s Freedom
was important in India’s independence. Hence with this feeling he founded the Goa Congress
Committee on the pattern of the branch of the Indian National Congress in 1928. Soon he got
it affiliated to Indian National Congress at its 43rd session held in Calcutta on 29th Dec 1928
presided over by Pandit Motilal Nehru. T.B Cunha attended it on behalf of Goa branch. It was
during this period he concentrated on the conditions prevalent in Goa & elaborated his views
on imperialism, nationalism & human rights in the pamphlets he brought out.
T.B Cunha exposes the prevailing miserable conditions of the people by launching a campaign
against agents of British Tea planters who had enticed Goan kunbis to work in Assam as
labourers. In order to bring them back he took the help of Indian National Congress authorities
& he did succeed to end this slavery in 1940. While the Goa Congress Committee was
restricting itself to agitate for freedom & fighting against injustice on particular Goans issues,
in 1934 the Indian National Congress took an unexpected decision to derecognize the branch
committees in London, New York & Goa because they functioned in the areas under alien
control. This discouraged T.B. Cunha & many other Goans. However, T.B Cunha didn’t lose
hope. He continued his campaign against the dictatorial regime of Salazar. He was very much
touched in 1941 when the torrential rains lashed South Goa led to devastation of the paddy
fields & residential houses of the peasants. He immediately organized the relief campaign
against the attitude of the Portuguese authorities, he published several pamphlets & booklets
during 1939 to 1946 including “Portuguese India” & “Denationalisation of Goans” against
which the Portuguese authorities in Goa got the copies of the booklet confiscated in Bombay.
However, upon the revertion of the lower court by Justice M.C. Chagla of the Bombay High
Court, the ban on the book was revoked.

The sudden Civil Disobedience movement initiated by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia in Goa on 18th
June 1946 turned out to be the most significant event in the life of the Goan Nationalists
including T.B. Cunha. It was not a surprise that he was specially marked by the Portuguese
authorities for victimization at the opportune moment. He personally experienced the
Portuguese brutality when he was arrested & beaten on 30th June 1946 for participating in the
meeting at Madgaon.

Subsequently on 12th July he was taken into custody at the Madgaon Railway station & was
sent to Aguada Jail. He was tried by the territorial military port on 24th July 1946 & was
sentenced to 8yrs imprisonment & a penalty of suspension of Political Rights for 15yrs. Within
a few days while he was unwell he was secretly taken away during the night on 28th July to
Vasco Da Gama & was jailed in the Military barracks & from he was deported to Portugal. He
was the first Goan Freedom Fighter to be tried in the Territorial Military Court & to be sent
into exile. On reaching Lisbon, he was detained in the Aljube Jail for a while & was transferred
to the Fortress of Paniche. He remained in the jail for 6yrs & was freed 2yrs before the term on
account of amnesty. He was not allowed to come back to India. However, he succeeded in
securing the tourist passport to Paris where he joined his brother, Francisco Braganza Cunha,
an indologist. From there he escaped to India on 4th Sep 1953.

On landing in Bombay he took upon his shoulders the task of uniting all Goan political parties
under the banner of the “Goa Action Committee” & back the massive Satyagraha movements
in 1954 & 1955. He continued the cause of Goa’s freedom through his writings in “Azad
Goen”, a Konkani paper which he himself published & through an English periodical “Free
Goa” published from Belguam & edited by himself in Bombay till he breathed his last on 26th
Sept 1958.
T.B Cunha unfortunately never got to see Goa Liberated in 1961 for which he had always
dreamed for throughout his life. He was honoured by the “World Peace Council” in Stockholm
in 1959 for his eminent contribution to the cause of peace & friendship among peoples. A
compilation of all his writings “Goa’s Freedom Struggle” had been published in 1961 in
Bombay by his friends to commemorate his memory

• Women's Role in the Goa's Liberation Struggle

For the lack of sufficient documentation, it is difficult to define exactly what role women
played in the revolts against the Portuguese during the first four centuries of Portuguese
colonialism. The first significant confrontation the Goan women had with the Portuguese
police, during the liberation movement, was on 18th June 1946, the day when Dr. Ram
Manohar Lohia addressed a public meeting in Margao without taking prior permission of the
colonial Government. From then onwards women did not look back They were present at
political meetings, debates, processions and even participated in satyagrahas.

Women freedom fighters in Goa can be grouped into four levels depending on the nature and
extent of their participation.

The first group consisted of a very small number of women who were attracted to the movement
in its entirety, and participated in various aspects of liberation activity. This was an elite group
and they came from sound socio-economic background and possessed certain resources like
education, leisure and support from family. The male family members were well educated, and
involved in the liberation struggle and encouraged these women to pursue education and take
active part in the liberation struggle.

The second was a small group of women who were committed to one particular aspect of the
liberation struggle. Their involvement was limited in terms of issue and geographical locale.

The third was the large group of women who participated as a part of the general mass of people
who, being influenced after 18th June 1946, participated in the political meetings and prabhat
pheries, or became satyagrahis. They opposed Portuguese rule publicly. They held the Indian
tricolour and shouted slogans and distributed anti-Portuguese pamphlets.

A fourth category also requires to be given due recognition to. In fact, in any freedom struggle,
while men find themselves in jail or carry on underground activities, the women who are left
at home to manage the household and bring up children are no less freedom fighters. It is this
group whose story does not get recorded in any history books, yet it is these who keep the
struggle alive by their silent support and willingness to accept hardships.

Factors that influenced women's entry in Goa's Liberation Struggle

1.A large number of them entered freedom struggle mainly due to family influence. In families,
men were more experienced in politics and their opinions influenced their sisters, wives and
daughters. The patriotic atmosphere in the house, political meetings, discussions, the visits of
leaders to their home, the political literature that was brought home all led to the growth of
political consciousness and willingness to volunteer for the cause of freedom. Thus Shalini
Phaldesai, Sharada Savaikar, Mogabai Naik, Prema N. Tendulkar were influenced by their
brothers who were involved in the liberation struggle. Sharada Savaikar recalls how her brother
was connected with the activities of Azad Gomantak Da1. Berta Braganca De Menezes and
Braganca (Dr) Beatris De Menezes were influenced by Dr T. B. Cunha, who was their uncle.
There were also instances where women such as Harmalkar Kishoribai, Rajani Suryankant
Naik, Shoba Prabhu Desai and others perceived their participation as being supportive of the
activities of their husbands.

2.Persuasion by other women also played a role. A prominent persuader was Sindhutai
Deshpande who went from one end to another and persuaded many young women to take part
in the freedom struggle. Sindhutai was a Maharastrian. She had actively participated in the
Bharat Chodo Andolan of 1942. She was imprisoned for the cause of freedom. She was
persuaded by Peter Alvares, the President of National Congress (Goa). Sindhutai created
fearlessness in the minds of the Goan women against the Portuguese police. She stimulated
political consciousness amongst women in various parts of Goa. She persuaded Hordarkar,
Celina Moniz, Divkar, Shalini Lolienkar, Shanta Hede, Vilasini Mahale and others to offer
satyagraha and actively contribute to Goa's liberation struggle.

Hordarkar although, influenced by her brother who was involved in the struggle, participated
in the satyagraha mainly due to the persuasion by Sindhutai. Peter Alvares also influenced
Subhavati Bhobe. Anthony De Souza persuaded Laxmi Paiguinkar while Vithal Lolienkar
persuaded Shalini Lolienkar and Kumudini Paiguinkar. Efforts of Pramilatai Kant Zambaulikar
also needs to be recognized. She was active member of Goa Seva Sangh started by Purushottam
Kakodkar. She preached the use of Khadi. Many women joined this ashram. She persuaded
them to join Goa's liberation struggle. Some women outside Goa were actively supporting the
revolutionaries. These women were not Goans, nor had experienced Portuguese rule. They had
enthusiastically participated in the Indian national struggle for independence. They took up the
issue of Goa's liberation in right earnest and rushed to the aid of the struggling Goans. They
were Ambika Dandekar, Rai Sahodara Devi, Tulpule Malinibai, Mandakini Yaigi, Kamal
Upasani, Prabha Sathe, Shanta Rao and others.

The major event that attracted people of Goa to its liberation struggle was the movement
launched by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia on 18th June 1946 in Margao to demand civil liberties and
to defy the ban on public meetings. Dr Lohia asked the young men and women not to fail in
their duties. He challenged them to carry on with the struggle. He stirred up the patriotic
feelings of Goans. Hundreds of them came forward and offered satyagraha. Dr. Lohia was
arrested. With many others one women named Vatsala Kirtani was also arrested on the same
day. This lead to nearly forty women marching to the police station demanding that Vatsala
Kirtani be freed. This event became the immediate cause for some women in Margao, like
Jeevan Karapurkar, Shashi Bandodkar, Ratan Khaunte, Umabai Shirali, Lalita Kantak, to enter
into liberation struggle. Dr. Lohia inspired confidence not only in women, but in their
guardians, husbands, brothers and fathers who did not object to their women folk coming out
of their sheltered homes to march on the streets. Thus Lohia was something like a Messiah to
the Goan people.
Course of Struggle

The beginning of the struggle was made by Sarubai Vaidya who started a Marathi-Portuguese
monthly called Waladikumkum' in 1910 for women. She wanted to awaken Goan women.
Another women, Pramilatai Zambaulikar, was very active and her house at Margao was a
centre of political activity. She installed a handloom spinning factory and charkhas at her
residence. She mobilized other women for the cause of Goa's liberation. She gave shelter to the
freedom fighters from the Portuguese police. She participated in satyagrahas and was
imprisoned. Mahatma Gandhi was her greatest source of inspiration.

18 June 1946 was the golden day in the history of Goa's liberation struggle. Women came out
on the streets in large numbers in the city of Margao, and willingly dedicate themselves to the
cause of liberation. They joined Prabhat-pheries in great numbers. Many of them were badly
beaten up and arrested. On 19th June 1946 a procession of women was led by Shrimati Shah.
A little girl Shashi Bandodkar, was hit on the face for shouting 'Jai Hind' and she started to
bleed through the nose. Another girl of 14, Ratan Khauwate was similarly hit. On July 21 st
1946, in the Prabhat phery in Margao, Lalita Kantak, Krishna Hegde and Vitha Hegde were
beaten up. Premilatai was taken to the police station and subjected to third-degree methods.
She was told that if the women of Margao took out a procession the police would strip them
naked.

On 30th June 1946 Berta Braganca offered a satyagraha in Margao. In 1954 Sindhutai offered
a satyagraha in Panjim. On 17th Feb 1955, Shashikala Hordarkar, Vilasini Prabhu, Suryakanti
Dessai and Lakshmi Paiguinkar offered a satyagraha in Margao notwithstanding their
awareness of the cruelty and inhuman behaviour of the Portuguese police. They were arrested
and after court marshal they were imprisoned. Kumud Paiguinkar offered a satyagraha under
leadership of Sudhatai Joshi at Mapusa on 6 thApril 1955. Phadke Ashatai and Lila Sawant
offered satyagraha at Shirgao Zatra day on 28 th April, 1955. Tulpule Malinibai offered
satyagraha at Pernem on 1 l th June, 1955.

The participation of women in Satyagraha Movement reflected the heroic personality and
spiritual courage of Goan women of all castes, classes and ages. It brought into relief, the
character and qualities of the Goan women who threw themselves into battle action with rare
courage and braved brutalities of the Portuguese police and military.

There were some of those who through their fearless speeches and writings gave inspiration to
the liberation struggle. Berta Braganca addressed a huge rally organized in Margao on 30th
June, 1946. She appealed to the youth to freely carry out the civil disobedience movement. She
asked the people to oppose the undemocratic laws of the Portuguese Government. The speech
was powerful and courageous. She was the secretary of Goa Youth League-Goa branch. She
along with her husband was the founder of a bulletin called Free Goa through which she wrote
editorials, notes and other articles. Besides writing to promote the cause for Goa's Liberation,
she also used other fora and platforms to advance the cause of Goa's Liberation. She undertook
a tour of the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the national Campaign Committee for Goa to
rouse the Indian masses to extend their help and wishes towards Goa's Liberation.

She was a member of the Indian Delegation to Afro-Asian Women's Conference in Cairo in
1961 where the liberation of Goa evoked a special interest. She was a member of the delegation
to Moscow in the same year, where she highlighted the anti-colonial struggle of the people
under the Portuguese regime and drew the attention towards liberation of Goa. Dr. Beatris De
Menezes Braganca took active part in the anti-Portuguese propaganda activities, meetings and
demonstrations held in Bombay. She was one of the youth leaders who led a large procession
to the Portuguese Consulate in Bombay in 1946 to protest against the arrest of T.B. Cunha. She
accompanied by Joachim Dias called upon the Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in
Delhi to apprise him of the Goa Problem. Laura De Souza gave up a lucrative medical practice
to join Goa's freedom movement. She organized Goan's Residential club in Bombay in 1955
which had 50,000 members who strongly supported Goa's Liberation Movement. She edited
Konkan Life' an English monthly in Bombay. She organized a huge rally of Goan's in Bombay
on 12th August, 1946, to demand that the Portuguese should quit Goa. In April 1961 she led a
delegation to Africa to canvass the support of Goans living there.

Asha Phadke wrote patriotic poems. She used religious discourses (Pravachanas and Kirtanas)
to spread the ideas of freedom. She also performed musical programmes and funded the
activities of the satyagrahis.

Libia Lobo, who was the secretary of Goa Youth League from 1948 to 1950, with her associate
Vaman Sardessai, set up an underground radio station 'Voice of Freedom' at Castlerrock. Later
it was shifted to Belguam. It broadcast daily from 1955-61. She gave the last ultimatum to Goa
Governor-General to surrender or Liberation forces would enter the territory, every ten minutes
from this clandestine radio.

Subhavati Bhobe recollects how she provided medical help to the freedom fighters. She along
with others served the badly injured freedom fighters at the camp set up at Dodamarg with the
help of Red Cross. Shanta N. Naik, Mitra Bir, Celina Moniz, Calista Aravejo, Divkar, Dessai,
Vilasini Mahale visited different parts of Goa and enkindled the flames of patriotism among
the people. They created political awareness among them. They mobilized the women to fight
for the righteous cause of liberation.

Then there were those who though did not participate in satyagraha, but played an important
role, behind the scene. They provided food and shelter to the underground revolutionaries.
They informed them about the activities of the Portuguese police. They circulated messages,
prepared pamphlets and distributed them. They affixed posters at public places, houses, shops,
electricity polls etc. A few of them worked for secret underground organizations. One such
major organization was Azad Gomantak Dal. However it is difficult to analyze the role of
women in violent activities from published sources. It can be assumed that they carried out
supplementary activities like giving food and shelter to the underground activists, carrying
messages and arms. There was no special programme to train women. In fact, Prema Tendulkar
was hurt due to ambush fire while taking explosives to Tamdisurla. She was young, only
thirteen years old then. They were aware of the implications of their patriotism both for
themselves and their families. Their families were exposed to harassment by the police to know
their whereabouts, and some of them were even alienated from relatives and friends. They
regretted the hardships their family members had to face due to their involvement, however
they felt that such sacrifice was necessary for Goa's liberation. It is proud to note that women
went in jail for the cause of freedom.