Every year on December 19, Goa celebrates its liberation day. Why December 19 and not August 15?
As in any other case, all the answers are hidden in history, so the actual matter began in 1510, when Goa came under Portuguese rule after the victory of Aefonso de Albuquerque. During the Portuguese rule, Goa flourished economically and was also made the capital city of the Portuguese colony in India Basically, Portuguese don't want to leave Goa for multiple reasons:
1.) Since ancient times, Goa has been an important trading port.
2.) Appropriate location for expanding naval forces
3.) To promote Christianity
4.) Western powers have always been influenced by the spice trade routes of Goa Island and Indian spice businesses.
In 1928, everything was going swimmingly for the Portuguese until the first resistance against Portuguese rule was launched by a Frenchman, Tristao de Braganca Cunha, who distributed anti-Portuguese pamphlets in Goa, detailing 400 years of oppressive Portuguese rule. Also in 1938, under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, an office of the Indian National Congress (INC) was established in Goa. After two years of the INC's inauguration in 1940, the Portuguese government started a crackdown in Goa and banned public gatherings. In Goa, there were massive protests against this law. Some were really violent; people started attacking the government signs. Amidst all of this, in 1946, popular socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia visited Goa and encouraged the masses to protest nonviolently against the government.
Goa after the independence of India:-
In 1947, when Britain and France left India, the Indians were quite obvious about the fact that the Portuguese would also pack their bags, but they didn't, and Portugal's so-called Estado de India consisted of Daman and Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Goa.
As expected, the newly independent India doesn't like this continuous Portuguese rule. Even in 1950, the Government of India formally invited the Portuguese for negotiations, but they completely ignored it and declared it unethical and illegal by saying that Goa is an integral part of Portugal because, at the time of the annexation of the Portuguese in 1510, there was no such entity like India.
Meanwhile, from 1952 to 1954, Indian-backed groups like the RSS, Azad Gomantak Dal, the United Front of Goa, and the National Movement Liberation Unit started protests against the lead authorities. Portugal was lacking military sources in Dadra and Nagar Haveli because the area was totally surrounded by Indian territories. At the time, the Portuguese government also requested permission from the Indian government for the route to provide military supplies, which was obviously denied by the government. On the other hand, India seizes the opportunity to consolidate control over the Dadra Nagar haveli and frees itself from Portuguese rule.
On August 15, 1955, in Goa, Portugal's forces opened fire on a march, killing 30 people, and as a result of the incident being covered by the world media, Portugal lost international support and was heavily criticized. Nehru Ji was the PM at that time, and he tried really hard to avoid war. He discussed the matter with the President of the United States several times, but nothing came of our support; all international powers supported the Portugal except the USSR. Also, VK Krishnan Menon (the defence minister of India at that time) made his stand clear in international forums and clearly indicated that there was a chance of military action if needed, but the World Forum was continuously asking India to deescalate the situation.
Finally, the time came and on 24 Nov 1961, A passenger boat was passing between the Anjediva island(goa) and Kochi Island, Portuguese forces fired on that boat and a passenger got dead on the spot. This blunder by the Portuguese gave India the perfect excuse to attack them.
"Operation Vijay" began on December 17, 1961, and India was prepared with all three forces for the full and final assault. Nehru ji raised the green signal to Indian troops they started from the northeastern goa and by the 18th of Dec most of the Goa was under the control of Indian troops. On the other hand, Portuguese leader Antonio Salazar gave extreme orders to his soldiers: either win or die, and the lack of any prominent presence of the Portuguese air force benefited the Indian air force. Air raids by India completely destroyed and blocked the local roadways. Meanwhile, Indian navy liberated the Anjediva island with the help of INS Mysore and INS Trisul.
By the great Bravery and charm operation Vijay was successfully completed in only 36 hours making goa an integral part of the India on 19th December 1961. Not to mention, when Indian troops entered Panaji after the victory, they got significant support from the local masses.
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operation Vijay 1961: the last straw |
After the liberation of Goa, with no other option, Portugal ended all the diplomatic relationships with India and declared Goa an illegally occupied country, which doesn't affect India in any way.
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