Goa Liberation Day

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Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day
The War Memorial at Indian Naval Ship Gomantak.JPG
The War Memorial at Indian Naval Ship Gomantak was constructed in memory of seven young sailors and other personnel who died on 19 December 1961 in the "Operation Vijay (1961)" undertaken by the Indian Navy for annexation of Anjediva Island and Territories of Goa, Daman and Diu from the Portuguese rule in India. [1]
Observed by Goans, Indians
SignificanceLiberation of Goa from Portugal
Date19 December 1961
FrequencyAnnual
Related to Goa liberation movement

Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day [2] is observed on December 19 every year in Goa, India. [3] [4] The Goa Liberation Day is celebrated in commemoration of the Indian armed forces annexing Portuguese-ruled Goa in 1961, [5] after which India was free of any European rule. [6] [7]

Contents

Background

2011 Indian postage stamp dedicated to the golden jubilee of Goa Liberation Stamp of India - 2011 - Colnect 978272 - Golden Jubilee of Goa Liberation.jpeg
2011 Indian postage stamp dedicated to the golden jubilee of Goa Liberation

Goa was annexed by the Indian Army on 19 December 1961 after 451 years of Portuguese rule. [8] The movement for independence in the 19th century in India had a smaller impact in Goa as well, with a few residents of participating in Satyagraha up to the 1960s. Portugal did not grant Goa independence or let Goa join India at the same time as the majority of the subcontinent granted by the British in 1947 [a] , stating that Goa was culturally and religiously distinct from the rest of India and that Goa was a part of Portugal proper rather than a colony. [9] India didn't take any military action then, as it was more concerned with integrating the Princely States. The Indian government asked Portugal to open negotiations in 1950, but after Portugal refused to respond to subsequent aide-mémoires in regards to Goa India withdrew its diplomatic mission to Portugal on 11 June 1953. [10] India invaded and annexed Goa in late December 1961.

Observance

Various programmes organised across Goa to mark the Goa Liberation Day. [11] In 2021, the observance consisted of a women's parliament and a youth parliament and Narendra Modi inaugurated new projects like the Super Specialty Block at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum in North Goa, Aviation Skill Development Center at Mopa Airport, the Gas-insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao, and the New South Goa District Hospital. [12]

See also

Notes

  1. France held territory in India until 1954.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daman and Diu</span> Former union territory in western India

Daman and Diu was a union territory in northwestern India. With an area of 112 km2 (43 sq mi), it was the smallest administrative subdivision of India on the mainland. The territory comprised two districts, Daman and Diu island, geographically separated by the Gulf of Khambat. The state of Gujarat and the Arabian Sea bordered the territory. A Portuguese colony since the 1500s, the territories were taken by India with the Annexation of Goa in 1961. Daman and Diu were administered as part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu between 1961 and 1987. After the Goa Opinion Poll, they became a separate union territory. In 2019, legislation was passed to merge the union territory of Daman and Diu with its neighbouring union territory, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, to form the new union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu with effect from 26 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Goa</span>

The history of Goa dates back to prehistoric times, though the present-day state of Goa was only established as recently as 1987. In spite of being India's smallest state by area, Goa's rich history is both long and diverse. It shares a lot of similarities with Indian history, especially with regard to colonial influences and a multi-cultural aesthetic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diu, India</span> City in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, India

Diu, also known as Diu Town, is a medieval fortified town in Diu district in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, India. Diu district is the tenth least populated district of India. The town of Diu lies at the eastern end of Diu Island and is known for its fortress and old Portuguese cathedral. It is a fishing town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annexation of Goa</span> 1961 Indian military operation

The Annexation of Goa was the process in which the Republic of India annexed the Portuguese State of India, the then Portuguese Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, starting with the armed action carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in December 1961. In India, this action is referred to as the "Liberation of Goa". In Portugal, it is referred to as the "Invasion of Goa". Jawaharlal Nehru had hoped that the popular movement in Goa and the pressure of world public opinion would force the Portuguese Goan authorities to grant it independence, but without success; consequently, Krishna Menon suggested taking Goa by force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Goa and Damaon, India

The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goa and Daman encompasses the Goa state and the Damaon territory in the Konkan region, by the west coast of India. The ecclesiastical province of Goa and Damaon includes a suffragan diocese, the Sindhudurg Diocese that comprises the Malvani areas of. The Archbishop of Goa also holds the titles of Primate of the East and Patriarch of the East Indies, also hold the title of the Syrian Catholic Primate of the Archdiocese of Cranganore. The beginnings lie in the Padroado system of Portuguese Goa and Damaon, in the early 1900s the primatial see was transferred back to the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, as the Padroado system of the Indo-Portuguese era was being dismantled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. B. Cunha</span> Goan freedom fighter and activist (1891–1958)

Tristão de Bragança Cunha, alternatively spelled as Tristao de Braganza Cunha, popularly known as T B Cunha was a prominent Goan nationalist and anti-colonial activist from Goa. He is popularly known as the "Father of Goan nationalism", and was the organiser of the first movement to end Portuguese rule in Goa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1967 Goa status referendum</span> 1967 referendum in Goa and Damaon to decide the future of Goa

The 1967 Goa status referendum popularly known as the Goa Opinion Poll was a referendum held in newly annexed union territory of Goa and Damaon in India, on 16 January 1967, to deal with the Konkani language agitation and to decide the future of Goa.

The Goa liberation movement was a movement which fought to end Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, Portuguese India. The movement built on the small scale revolts and uprisings of the 19th century, and grew powerful during the period 1940–1961. The movement was conducted both inside and outside Goa, and was characterised by a range of tactics including nonviolent demonstrations, revolutionary methods and diplomatic efforts. However, Portuguese control of its Indian colonies ended only when India invaded and annexed Goa in 1961, causing a mixture of worldwide acclaim and condemnation, and incorporated the territories into India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli</span> Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli by India

The Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli was the conflict in which the territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli passed from Portuguese rule to independent rule, with Indian allegiance, in 1954.

The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as The Constitution Act, 1961, incorporated Dadra and Nagar Haveli as the seventh Union territory of India, by amending the First Schedule to the Constitution. It also amended clause (1) of article 240 of the Constitution to include therein the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in order to enable the President to "make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the territory". The 10th Amendment retroactively came into effect on 11 August 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Portugal relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between India and Portugal began amicably in 1947 when the former achieved independence. Relations went into decline after 1950 over Portugal's refusal to surrender its exclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli on India's west coast. By 1955, the two nations had cut off diplomatic relations, triggering a crisis that led to a war between two countries which resulted in the Indian Annexation of Goa in 1961. Portugal refused to recognise Indian sovereignty over the annexed territories until 1974 when, following the Carnation Revolution, the new government in Lisbon recognised Indian sovereignty and restored diplomatic relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goa</span> State in Western India

Goa is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea in the west. It is India's smallest state by area and fourth-smallest by population. Goa has the highest GDP per capita among all Indian states, two and a half times as high as the GDP per capita of the country as a whole. The Eleventh Finance Commission of India named Goa the best-placed state because of its infrastructure, and India's National Commission on Population rated it as having the best quality of life in India. It is the second-highest ranking among Indian states in the human development index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu</span> Union territory of India

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is a union territory in India. The territory was constituted through the merger of the former territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Plans for the proposed merger were announced by the Government of India in July 2019; the necessary legislation was passed in the Parliament of India in December 2019 and came into effect on 26 January 2020. The territory is made up of four separate geographical entities: Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, and the island of Diu. All four areas were formerly part of Portuguese India, with a joint capital at Panjim, Goa. They came under Indian rule in the mid-20th century after the Annexation of Goa and of the Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Goa, Daman and Diu were jointly administered until 1987, when Goa was granted statehood after the Konkani language agitation. The current capital is Daman and Silvassa is the largest city.

The first elections to the Goa, Daman & Diu Legislative Assembly were held in December 1963, to elect members of the 30 constituencies, in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julião Menezes</span> Indian freedom fighter, and nationalist leader (1909–1980)

Julião Menezes, also known as Dr. Juliao Menezes, was an Indian freedom fighter, medical practitioner, author, and nationalist leader. He played a prominent role in the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese rule and was active in the Goa liberation movement. Menezes established the publication Gomantak Praja Mandal, to promote nationalism among Goans. He was a member of the provisional committee of the Indian National Congress in Portuguese Goa and was present at its session in 1948. He played an active role during its formation. He, along with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, planned the civil disobedience movement against Salazar's regime in Goa on 18 June 1946, a day that is now celebrated as Goa Revolution Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roque Santana Fernandes</span> Indian politician and freedom fighter (1927–2007)

Roque Santana Joao Fernandes was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who was a former member of the Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1977, representing the Cuncolim Assembly constituency. He is popularly known as the "Father of Goan Democracy" and was responsible for the introduction of democracy by objecting to the Lt. Governor's nomination through his satyagraha. He was one of the prominent people that contributed to Goa's freedom struggle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu</span> Territorial administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

The Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is the governing body of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The administration is led by an administrator appointed by the President of India. The union territory doesn't have an elected legislative assembly. It governs three districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libia Lobo Sardesai</span> Indian independence activist (born 1924)

Libia "Libby" Lobo Sardesai is an Indian independence activist from Goa. Along with Vaman Sardesai, whom she later married, she ran an underground radio station, Voice of Freedom, that transmitted across Portuguese Goa from 1955 to 1961, advocating the cause of the Goan independence movement. Following the Liberation of Goa, she was the first Director of Tourism of Goa, Daman and Diu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Vaz</span> Indian politician (1919–1999)

George Vaz was an Indian freedom fighter, trade unionist and politician.

References

  1. "Goa,Daman Diu Liberation Day Anniversary". Indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  2. "जब भारतीय सेना ने गोवा को 450 साल पुराने पुर्तगाली शासन से कराया था आजाद" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 19 December 2018.
  3. Bose, Abhimanyu (19 December 2018). "Country Celebrates 57th Goa Liberation Day, Parade Held In Coastal State". NDTV.
  4. "This is how Goa celebrated its 57th Liberation day". The Times of India . 20 December 2018.
  5. Bose, Abhimanyu (19 December 2018). "Country Celebrates 57th Goa Liberation Day, Parade Held In Coastal State". NDTV.
  6. "Goa Liberation Day 2021: Operation Vijay 1961". SA News Channel. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  7. "Goa Liberation Day Highlights: Goa would have been liberated earlier had Sardar Patel lived longer, says PM Modi". The Indian Express. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  8. "Here's to the folks of Goa, Daman and Diu!". Rediff.com . 19 December 2011.
  9. History Matters (4 February 2023). Why did the world let India annex Goa? (Short Animated Documentary) . Retrieved 19 November 2024 via YouTube.
  10. Lambert Mascarenhas (14 February 2012). "Ancient Goan History – GOACOM – Goa – India – Information and Services in Goa. Goa News, Goa Konkani News, Goa Sunaparant News, Goan Konakani News, Goa Video News, Goa Yellow Pages". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  11. "On Goa Liberation Day, govt calls to make state plastic-free". Indian Express. 19 December 2018.
  12. "Goa Liberation Day 2021: History, significance, theme, quotes and messages". India Today. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.