Movement for the liberation of Goa
Even after India became free in 1947, Goa, Daman and Diu remained under Portuguese rule. The struggle to free them is called the Goa liberation movement.
- Early movement: In 1928 Dr. T. B. Cunha founded the Goa Congress Committee. In 1946 Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia broke the ban on public meetings at Madgaon, which started a mass civil disobedience movement in Goa.
- Organisations: The National Congress (Goa), Azad Gomantak Dal and other groups carried on the struggle. Leaders such as Dr. T. B. Cunha, Purushottam Kakodkar and Mohan Ranade were jailed; Mohan Ranade was imprisoned in Portugal.
- Liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1954): volunteers of the Azad Gomantak Dal and other groups freed these Portuguese enclaves.
- Satyagraha of 1955: satyagrahis from all over India marched into Goa on 15 August 1955. The Portuguese fired on them; many, including Karnail Singh Benipal, were killed, and Sahodrabai Rai, who was carrying the national flag, was badly wounded. Leaders such as Senapati Bapat, N. G. Gore and Sudhatai Joshi took part.
- Government action: Portugal refused all peaceful negotiations. On 18 December 1961 the Indian army began ‘Operation Vijay’, and on 19 December 1961 the Portuguese surrendered.
Goa, Daman and Diu were freed and became part of India; Goa became a separate state in 1987.
