Joao Sousa M
Margao
Fourteen years after the then chief minister Digambar Kamat promised to honour Goa revolution hero Dr Juliao Menezes by converting his residence in Assolna into a museum, the proposal is yet to materialise.
As Goa gears up to commemorate the 79th Goa Revolution Day on June 18 — recalling the 1946 civil disobedience movement against Portuguese rule — the family of Dr Menezes continues to wait for official recognition.
Kamat, along with former MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, had unveiled portraits of Dr Menezes and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia in the house. At the event, Kamat announced that a memorial would be established at Dr Menezes’ residence and the house converted into a museum.
“To this day, there has been no progress. The promise remains just an academic assurance,” said Dr Menezes’ nephew, Denis Menezes. “It would have been nice had the government honoured the commitment as my uncle also played a crucial role. Though he worked in the background, his contributions cannot be forgotten.”
Denis said that Dr Menezes, while practising medicine in Mumbai, was also actively involved in Goa’s liberation struggle.
“When Dr Lohia arrived in Goa on June 10, 1946, he stayed in our house. They were close friends, having studied together in Germany. From June 10 to 18, they shared a room here,” he said.
He added that students and young citizens frequently visit the house, and the family keeps the doors open for those curious about Dr Menezes’ legacy.
“Sadly there is no recognition to my uncle while Lohia has received recognition not only in Goa but in other states, where several hospitals and institutions have been named after him,” Denis said.
He stated that the house contains many significant artefacts and writings by Dr Menezes. “He had two cupboards full of medical books in English, Portuguese, and German. We donated them to Goa Medical College with the hope they’d be preserved.”
“Recently, we visited GMC and were shocked by the lack of maintenance. If a museum is developed, we could recall those books and restore their importance.”
Denis also said that a statue of Dr Menezes at a prominent location would be a fitting tribute to his role in Goa’s freedom struggle.
