EDITORIAL
June 18 should inspire Goans to defend unity, identity and heritage today
Several functions will be held today to observe Goa Revolution Day – June 18, 1946 – the historic events of which day ignited the freedom movement in Portuguese-ruled Goa.
After António Salazar came to power in Portugal, Portuguese rule in Goa was marked by strict censorship and the suppression of civil liberties, including a ban on public meetings. At the time, the independence movement was sweeping across India and its ripples were felt in Goa too. There was simmering discontent and the turning point came with Ram Manohar Lohia, a socialist leader. He was invited to Goa by his friend Dr Juliao Menezes from Assolna. The visit quickly transformed into a political milestone.
As word spread that Lohia would break the ban on public speaking, people began to assemble in Margao town. The day was June 18, 1946. Rain clouds had gathered, but that did not deter people from coming out in large numbers despite efforts by the Portuguese to instil fear. Anticipating trouble, the Portuguese administration deployed soldiers at strategic locations. As there were restrictions on taxis, Lohia and Menezes arrived in a horse-drawn cart. As they stepped out, the Portuguese officer in charge rushed to question Lohia’s presence. He was told that special permission was required to address people in public and was placed under arrest. When Menezes attempted to speak, he too was arrested.
Before getting into the police van, Lohia gave a copy of his written speech to young Vishwanant Lawande and told him to read it out. Soon, Lawande, followed by others, was arrested. A firebrand youth, burning with patriotic fervour, courageously took on the Portuguese authorities: Vatsala Kirtani. She and Evagrio Jorge were taken into custody.
News of the arrests spread like wildfire, triggering protests across the state. In Margao, Panaji, Ponda and other places, shopkeepers kept their establishments closed and meetings were held as a mark of protest. Indeed, it was a revolutionary move that shook the Portuguese regime. The news soon reached the rest of India and was reported by the media. Even Mahatma Gandhi praised Lohia for breaking the ban on civil liberties in Goa. It also marked the beginning of a mass movement against colonial rule.
June 18, 1946, was a day when people shed their hesitation and challenged the might of the repressive Salazar regime with a demand for civil liberties and freedom. What was significant was that, for the first time, people from all walks of life, including intellectuals, traders and youth, demonstrated unity in a new phase of the freedom struggle.
June 18 also holds relevance today. In its own way, Goa faces a different set of pressures – environmental degradation, the struggle for cultural preservation, mass tourism, unchecked urban development, lopsided planning, the erosion of village character and the dilution of Goemkarponn.
If we are to honour the legacy of June 18, 1946, we need to look beyond nostalgia and reflect on the unity displayed by the people of that era. The greatest achievement of 1946 was the creation of a unified Goan consciousness. June 18 should not be merely a day of wreath-laying and official speeches. It should also be a day of introspection.
As we remember the bravery of those who stood up to a colonial power, we must ask ourselves: are we maintaining the unity required to safeguard the Goa they fought for? We need to work in unison, cutting across religious and caste barriers, with the courage to preserve the soul of the land.
