Posted on : 18-06-2018
Today, Goa is a torchbearer among India’s most developing states in terms of our enviable standard of living, blooming start-up sector and our time-honored tourism sector but all this is the result of a different independence struggle that ended a 435-year-long oppressive Portuguese rule in Goa. Goa revolution day is celebrated to pay homage towards the sacred memory of revered martyrs who laid down their life for the liberation of Goa from Portuguese Colonial Rule.
In a Public Meeting held on 18 June 1946, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr. Juliao Menezes urged the people of Goa to stand against the oppression from the Portuguese and to fight for their freedom. They sought to unite the Goenkars for a common cause and those were for a better life, a prosperous future and to put an end to the oppressive foreign colonial power that was choking the life out of Goa. The turnout was so big that police decided to arrest both Dr. Lohia and Dr. Menezes. Thus the day would prove to be a watershed day in the history of the Goan freedom struggle, where the inhumane treatment meted out by the Portuguese police to those protesting would leave a lasting impression on young Goans. Since then, the day was remembered as the Goa Revolution Day.
The unity and sense of brotherhood in every Goenkar was the primary reason why the Portuguese failed in continuing their rule. The same sense of togetherness is still a great driving force for Goa’s development. People of Goa, even with all their diversities have always come together in times of necessity and have worked together to make a change. This spirit is what drives Goa towards a bright future. We must never take for granted the freedom that has been handed down to us by those luminous souls. We must take lessons from their lives and strive to uphold the standards of liberty, equality, and justice. We as Goenkars should imbibe the calmness of our beaches, the fierceness of our seas and the ethereal beauty of our little paradise in our daily lives to portray the true sense of freedom that Goa flamboyantly exudes.
In the past year, we as a state have achieved a number of remarkable things including a drastic growth in the areas of Start-ups, Women empowerment, and Farmer incentives. This is the result of Sheer trust that Goenkars had upon our government. Our primary aim has always been growth and development of Goa and I’m humbled to say that under the guidance of our Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar, we are developing in an extraordinary pace. Together with your support and trust, we will take Goa to great heights. We have always traveled the extra mile, and have done whatever it takes to maintain and improve the sanctity of Goen, Goenkar, and Goenkarpon. Goa is in the path of development and only with the same spirit of unity, we can take Goa towards happiness and glory that we all deserve.
It’s happening right now, through us, through you!