Historian and professor Prajal Sakhardande’s new book ‘History of Women’s Contribution to Goa’s Struggle for Freedom (1928-1961)’, sheds light on the courageous yet often overlooked women who played a pivotal role in Goa’s fight for liberation from Portuguese rule
ADITHI SHARMA | NT BUZZ
Prajal Sakhardande’s journey in documenting Goan women’s resistance to Portuguese rule began over three decades ago, when he was a master’s student at Goa University under professor Pratima Kamat. “It started as a simple 20-mark assignment, where I studied Sharda Tai Savaikar’s role in the movement,” he recalls.
That small project became the foundation for the historian and professor’s new book ‘History of Women›s Contribution to Goa›s Struggle for Freedom (1928-1961)’.
The book traces women’s involvement from 1928 to 1961, beginning with Berta and Beatrice Menezes Bragança, who were among the first Goan women to actively participate in the independence struggle alongside their uncle Dr. T. B. Cunha. Their pioneering activism set the stage for broader women’s participation in political resistance.
The 18th June Movement of 1946, led by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, also saw Goan women take to the streets in protest. Pramilabai Zambaulikar and, Vatsala Kirtani, who became the first woman to be arrested, were among the many who risked their lives for freedom.
Women also played a crucial role behind the scenes as strategists, shelter providers, and underground revolutionaries. The book highlights Sahodaradevi Rai, who led a satyagraha and survived being fired upon, and Shobha Prabhudesai, who faced imprisonment while leaving behind her young children. Mogabai Naik, another lesser-known hero, provided refuge for revolutionaries in her house in Dhuler, Mapusa, for which she
was later arrested.
Perhaps one of the most harrowing accounts is that of Savaikar, who endured physical assault at the Panaji police quartel in 1955 at the hands of the notorious Agente Casimiro Monteiro. “Her resilience in the face of such brutality is a testament to the strength of the women who fought for our freedom,” says Sakhardande.
The book also highlights the critical support of women beyond Goa, particularly from Belgaum, where leaders like Sindhu Deshpande and Sudhatai Joshi mobilised efforts to support the movement. Joshi’s satyagraha outside the Maruti temple in Mapusa in 1955, alongside Kumudini Paiguinkar, Shalini Lolienkar, and Ambikabai Dandekar, became a nationally discussed event.
Sakhardande has conducted extensive research, interviewed freedom fighters, studied court trials, and sifted through archival records to reconstruct these untold narratives. “Many of these women’s contributions were either unrecorded or buried in trial documents and personal accounts,” he shares. Among the legal records he examined included the court trials of Laxmi Paiguinkar, Suryakanti Phaldesai, Shashikala Hodarkar Almeida, and Vilasini Prabhu Mahale.
A defining moment in his research was meeting Sindhutai Deshpande, now 99 years old, who had inspired many young women in Canacona to join the movement. “It was a privilege to speak to her, as very few from my generation have had the chance to directly engage with freedom fighters from that era,”
says Sakhardande.
With 105 pages written in an accessible language, the book is designed for students, researchers, and history enthusiasts alike. Sakhardande believes that educating younger generations about these women’s contributions is essential for a more inclusive understanding of history.
“This book is not just about looking back; it’s about recognising that the fight for justice and gender equality, continues today. International Women›s Day is an opportunity to celebrate both the past and the ongoing struggles for equal rights,”
he states.
(The book will be officially released on March 22, at the hands of
Goan lady freedom fighter, Sharda Tai Savaikar, on her 91st birthday.)
