Page 57 - NIS English 16-30 June 2022

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav India@75

MADHU LIMAYE: PLAYED MOHAN RANADE: SPENT 14

KEY ROLE IN FREEING GOA YEARS IN PORTUGAL JAIL

Born on May 1, 1922; Died on January 8, 1995 Born: December 25, 1930, Died: June 25, 2019

adhu Limaye, a disciple of oa's liberation movement
MDr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Gleader, Mohan Ranade,
was imprisoned in Portugal for who attacked Betim,
two years between 1955 and Banstarim, and other police
1957 during Goa's struggle for outposts during Goa's
independence.He faced many liberation movement, was
difficulties there, but he did not arrested by Portuguese police
give up and continued to work in 1955 and imprisoned in the
for Goa's liberation. Madhu Limaye was imprisoned fort of Caxias near Lisbon in Portugal. Even after
in the freedom movement when he was 14–15 years Goa's liberation in 1961, the Portuguese kept him in
old and released when World War I ended in 1944. solitary confinement for six years before releasing
When the Satyagraha for the Liberation of Goa began, him in January 1969, after nearly 14 years in prison.
he went back to jail and played an important role in Mohan Ranade joined the Azad Gomantak Dal to
freeing Goa from the Portuguese and integrating gain Goa independence from Portuguese rule after
it into India. Madhu Limaye, born on May 1, 1922 in being influenced by freedom fighter and nationalist
Pune, Maharashtra, is one of modern India's most ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. In fact,
prominent personalities, having played an important those fighting for Goa's independence realised that
role in both the national and Goan independence a movement like Satyagraha could not result in
movements. Madhu Limaye had completed his victory.
matriculation exam at a young age. After finishing high In such a situation, they chose a different course
school, he enrolled in higher education at Fergusson of action, in which Ranade also participated.
College in Pune in 1937, where he became involved Following this, he became involved in secret
in student movements. Following that, drawn by the agitational activities against Portuguese colonial
national movement and socialist ideology, he joined rule. Ranade arrived in Goa as a Marathi teacher in
the Goa Liberation Movement in the 1950s. the early 1950s. He took part in armed attacks on
Madhu Limaye, a staunch opponent of colonialism, Portuguese police stations. His last attack occurred
led a major Satyagraha in July 1955 and entered Goa, in October 1955 at Betim. Ranade, who was born in
where the Satyagrahis were attacked by Portuguese Sangli, Maharashtra, was shot in the lungs during
police.The Portuguese Military Tribunal sentenced the attack and was apprehended. He was sentenced
him to rigorous imprisonment in December 1955, to 26 years in prison for this attack, of which he
but Madhu Limaye did not defend or appeal. While was to serve 6 years in solitary confinement. Many
imprisoned in Goa, he wrote, 'I have realised how people agitated for his release from prison, and
profoundly Gandhiji has changed my life.' They have many national leaders demanded it, but he was not
had a significant impact on my personality and released.
willpower. Even after being released from Portuguese After 14 years he was finally released on January
custody, Madhu Limaye continued to mobilise the 25, 1969 on the intervention of pope. Ranade
masses for Goa's liberation, soliciting support from relocated to Pune after his release. He did, however,
various groups and urging the Indian government make two trips to Goa each year. One on June 18,
to take concrete steps in this regard. The Indian known as Kranti Diwas, and the other on December
government was forced to intervene militarily in Goa, 19, known as Goa's Liberation Day. Mohan Mohan
and the state was thus liberated from Portuguese rule. Ranade received the Padma Shri award in 2001
During the Goa Liberation Movement, he was held and the Sangli Bhushan award in 2006. In 1986,
captive by the Portuguese for more than 19 months. he received the Goa Award for social work. He has
During his confinement, he wrote a prison diary, which also published books about the Goa Liberation
was published in 1996 by his wife, Champa Limaye, Movement. Ranade was a fearless freedom fighter
as "Goa Liberation Movement and Madhu Limaye." whose sacrifices and struggles for Goa will be

New India Samachar June 16-30, 2022 55