Panjim, June 17: On June 18, 1946, the bustling square of Margao was filled with a massive crowd. This gathering marked a historic moment when the people of Goa united to demand their rights and freedom. On this day, Goans resolved that their fate would no longer be dictated by colonial powers but by themselves. This pivotal decision is why June 18 is commemorated as Goa Revolution Day.
The story of this revolution, however, begins not in Margao but thousands of kilometers away at the University of Berlin in Germany. In the late 1920s, two young students, Julio Menezes from Goa and Ram Manohar Lohia from Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, met there. Both shared a common nationalist spirit and envisioned a free India, liberated from foreign rule. After completing their education, they returned to their respective paths, yet their goal remained the same.
Lohia returned to India in 1933 after earning his PhD, while Menezes obtained his MD and returned to Goa in 1938. They later moved to Bombay, where they began advocating for civil rights in Goa. The two friends maintained regular contact. During the Quit India Movement, when Lohia went underground, Menezes provided him shelter. In 1946, when Lohia fell ill, Menezes invited him to rest at his home in Assolna, South Goa. However, upon Lohia’s arrival, discussions commenced rather than rest. From June 10 onwards, intellectuals and political activists began to gather, focusing on how to secure civil rights for the people of Goa.
This marked the birth of a new movement. At that time, the Portuguese regime had imposed a ban on public gatherings. Nevertheless, on June 15, Menezes and Lohia addressed a public meeting in Panjim, an act of civil disobedience. The success of this gathering boosted the morale of both leaders, leading them to decide on another large meeting in Margao three days later. The scene on June 18 in Margao shocked the Portuguese administration. Amidst the large crowd, Menezes and Lohia urged the people to stand against colonial rule and reclaim their rights. They delivered a clear message: freedom is not merely requested; it is earned through struggle.
Initially, the Portuguese government did not take this mass movement seriously and attempted to dismiss it. However, as public support grew, their concerns escalated. Shortly after the assembly, Menezes and Lohia were arrested and taken to the dark confines of the Panjim police station. Yet, the movement remained unaffected by their arrests. In fact, it intensified rapidly. The following day, as news spread, protests erupted across Goa. People flooded the streets of cities and towns, staging sit-ins and demanding the release of both revolutionaries.
Eventually, Lohia was released near the Goa border, while Menezes was freed in Margao. By then, history had begun to shift. The movement initiated by these leaders gave new direction to the struggle for freedom in Goa. India gained independence from British rule in 1947, but Goa remained under Portuguese control. The Portuguese presence in India dates back to when Vasco da Gama arrived via sea route in 1498. Over time, their influence waned, but Goa remained one of their key strongholds.
After enduring Portuguese rule for over four and a half centuries, Goa finally achieved freedom on December 19, 1961. The Indian Army liberated Goa, Daman, and Diu through Operation Vijay. While India views this as Goa’s liberation, the Portuguese perspective labels it an invasion.
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