Page 56 - NIS English 16-30 June 2022
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India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
he liberation struggle for Goa is an immortal
flame that has remained lit and unshaken
Tamidst adversities. Everyone worked tirelessly
for Goa, from the Kunkali Sangram to the valiant
Marathas led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and
Sambhaji. On June 18, 1946, socialist leader Dr.
The country had gained Ram Manohar Lohia launched the first Satyagraha
independence prior to Goa. movement for Goa's independence, launching the
The vast majority of people final phase of the Goa Liberation Struggle. Lohia
in the country got their ignited the Goa Revolution, and as a result, Goans
began organising themselves, taking inspiration from
rights. It was now time for India’s Independence movement. The Goa Revolution
them to realise their hopes also saw unprecedented revolutionary sacrifice. A
and dreams. They could revolutionary party called "Azad Gomantak Dal" was
have fought for power, risen also active to liberate Goa from the clutches of the
Portuguese.
to positions of power, and The Government of India liberated Goa through
gained prestige. However, military operation "Vijay" on the 18–19 December
many fighters chose 1961, 14 years after the 18th of June 1946. As a
the path of struggle and result, the 76th anniversary of the start of the Goa
sacrifice to ensure Goa's Liberation Struggle and the 61st anniversary of
Goa's liberation fall this year. Between 1946 and
independence. The people 1961, thousands of Indians gave their lives to free
of Goa, too, never gave up Goa from Portuguese slavery. Many people were
the fight for independence tortured in Portuguese prisons for years. Everyone
and Swaraj. They stoked the fought together in Goa's fight for independence.
flame of independence for Hands were raised in unison in support of Goa's
liberation from all corners of India. To crush the
the longest time in Indian movement, the Portuguese arrested and imprisoned
history. many agitators and revolutionaries. Despite this,
the movement in Goa never slowed, and the jails
Narendra Modi, were packed with satyagrahis.
The Portuguese arrested many of these people
Prime Minister and sentenced them to long prison terms. Some of
these people were even imprisoned in the African
country of Angola. Many fighters fought for Goa's
independence, enduring hardships and making
sacrifices but refusing to give up the fight. During
Goa's independence struggle, 31 Satyagrahis
were killed in the Goa Mukti Vimochan Samiti
Satyagraha. Many Azad Gomantak Dal leaders have
devoted their lives to the Goa movement as well.
Many such fighters, such as Prabhakar Trivikram
Vaidya, Vishwanath Lavande, Jagannath Rao Joshi,
Nana Kajrekar, and Sudhir Phadke, fought for Goa,
Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli independence
and gave this movement direction and energy.
54 New India Samachar June 16-30, 2022