What is Goa liberation movement?
- The Portuguese colonised India in 1510, conquering many parts of the western coast and establishing several colonies in the east.
- By the end of the 19th century, Portuguese colonies in India were limited to Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli which were collectively known as Estado da India.
- After Indian independence the Britain and Francewhich colonised India started to decolonise and agreed to move back to their respective nations, but Portugal refused to leave its territories.
- To end the Portuguese rule a movement was started which was built on the small scale revolts and uprisings and later grew powerful, the moment happened during 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.
Why Portuguese was reluctant to move?
- Portugal emphasised that it had been around 450 years in Goa and found Arabian coasts as economic gateways for its global trade.
- It also concerned about Goan Catholics who would not be safe if it left.
- The nation conveniently overlooked the fact over 60% of Goans were Hindus, and many Goan Christians, had a place of honour in Indian public life.
How India annexed Goa?
- In 1961 an armed action code named Operation Vijay by the Indian Armed Forces was carried out to remove Portuguese administration from Goa.
- The operation involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours, and was a decisive victory for the Republic of India, ending 451 years of rule of Portugal over its remaining exclaves in India.
- In India, the action was seen as a liberation of historically Indian Territory, while Portugal viewed it as an aggression against national soil and its citizens.
What made India to take a violent stand?
- A series of events during Goa liberation movement made India to take a violent stand.
- From 1954, peaceful Satyagrahis attempts from outside Goa at forcing the Portuguese to leave Goa were brutally suppressed by Portuguese forces.
- Many revolts were quelled by the use of force and leaders eliminated or jailed, innocent villagers were also open fired by the Portuguese forces.
- As a result, India broke off diplomatic relations with Portugal, closed its Consulate-General in Panjim.
- India also imposed an economic embargo against the territories of Portuguese Goa.
- The Indian Government had taken the issues to global forums but Portuguese was refuted to abide any international resolutions.
- The then PM Nehru found the policy of patience and adherence to international ethics had not yielded results, and he decided to free Goa by force.
Source: The Hindu
