Thanks for that. I didn't mean to suggest that Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho's revolt had anything to do with his possible Goan roots/links. I was curious to find out the same (as we here are about Antonio Costa). This helps us understand the Portuguese-Goa colonial equations in different light. Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Btw, I think the questions of the impact of the Cold War, and Africa pushing India on Goa, still await understanding and explaining. Regards, FN PS: Below is a Soviet poster which I came across only thanks to the Internet... It reads: ""Goa, India. Colonialism is doomed everywhere" Soviet poster, 1961"
[image: soviet.jpg] On Wed, 26 Apr 2023 at 16:43, PEDRO MASCARENHAS <[email protected]> wrote: > I completed compulsory military service as a second lieutenant and dealt > with the internal situation in the barracks for 3 years. I became aware of > the complaints about the situation. > My article focuses solely and exclusively on the military fighting on the > battlefield, in the jungle. What the soldiers felt in the face of daily > difficulties, deaths, injuries, poor food, etc., their dissatisfactions and > fears. > While the pro-Salazar politicians and generals in the cities lived very > well and felt comfortable. > 1 - The soldiers without ideal conditions in Goa were humiliated with an > expected defeat (19/12/1961) . Here begins the hatred of the military > against the fascist regime. > 2 - Then follows a long and hard guerrilla war in Africa, where at least 3 > soldiers died every day. It was an unequal and endless struggle. Here > hatred grows even more against the regime. > 3 - Othelo's revolt has nothing to do with its origin. He never referenced > his Indian origin. The Portuguese are not obsessed with ancestors, whether > Chinese, African or Indian. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Cumpri o serviço militar compulsorio como segundo tenente e lidei durante > 3 anos com a situação interna nos quarteis. Tomei conhecimento das queixas > da situação. > O meu artigo foca unica e exclusivamente nos militares lutando no campo de > batalha, na selva. Aquilo que os soldados sentiam perante as dificuldades > diárias, as mortes, os feridos, má alimentação, etc., da suas insatisfações > e receios. > Enquanto os políticos e generais pro-Salazar nas cidades viviam muito bem > e se sentiam confortaveis. > 1 - Os militares sem condições ideias em Goa foram humilhados com uma > derrota esperada (19/12/1961) . Começa aqui o ódio dos militares contra o > regime fascista. > 2 - Segue-se depois uma longa e dura guerra de gurrilha em África, onde > morriam, por dia pelo menos 3 soldados. Era uma luta desigual e sem fim. > Aqui o ódio aumenta ainda mais contra o regime. > 3 - A revolta do Otelo não tem nada a ver com a sua origem. Ele nunca > referenciou a sua origem indiana. Os portugueses não estão obsecados com os > antepassados, se chinês, africano ou indiano. > Pedro Mascarenhas > > Frederick Noronha <[email protected]> escreveu no dia terça, > 25/04/2023 à(s) 22:41: > >> Just three questions here: >> >> (1) Since the war for independence/Portuguese colonial war in Africa >> began in February 1961, what does this imply as far as the timeline? Also, >> the following reminiscences suggest that Africa was also pushing India on >> this score: >> >> QUOTE In October 1961, Nehru, through the Indian Council for Africa, >> summoned in New Delhi a Seminar on the Problems of the Portuguese Colonies. >> When it ended, in Bombay, a big demonstration took place. Marcelino dos >> Santos remembers: >> >> While summoning that great meeting of all the movements of national >> liberation of the Portuguese colonies, we thought that Nehru was against >> us. I do not know whether he invited Timor, in any case Timor did not turn >> up. >> We had everything well structured, we had studied all the questions and >> answers, I was going as the leader. >> Nehru asked us: “What do you want me to do for you?” >> And I answered as planned: “We want you to do that which you should do >> for yourself. Liberate Goa”. >> Nehru had the fame of being Gandhian. But we were always highly >> respectful and delicate with him. We were happy to have been invited. We >> were proud of our daring and our art. UNQUOTE --*Battles Won, Lasting >> Dreams: Aquino de Bragança: The Man and His Times.* (Goa,1556: 2011) >> >> >> (2) What was the impact of the Cold War of those times on this issue, and >> how it shaped up? I agree, this is a long and complex issue to discuss in a >> email, but can we afford to overlook that? >> >> (3) Lastly, what were the Goan connections or roots if any of Otelo >> Saraiva de Carvalho? There are references in remote corners of cyberspace >> regarding this, but hardly anyone seems to be mentioning it. >> >> Thanks in advance, FN >> >> On Tue, 25 Apr 2023 at 15:31, 'Pedro Mascarenhas' via Goa-Research-Net < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> ......in English and Portuguese >>> April 25, 1974: It all started in India - Goa and ended in Lisbon >>> >>> >>> >>> To whom to attribute the paternity of the 25th of April in Portugal? >>> >>> The roots of the "coup d'etat"! Was it a "spontaneous manifestation or >>> triggered by someone? Regarding the military revolution that took place in >>> Portugal on April 25, 1974, 49 years ago, some historians and political >>> commentators believe that the idea began to germinate on December 19, 1961 >>> in Goa, India, when the Portuguese military forces surrendered, generating >>> deep discomfort among officers of all branches. It was the cause and the >>> first stone of the colonial domino to fall. The other four would fall later >>> : Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Portugal. >>> >>> The subterfuges that the dictatorial regime performed in the so-called >>> estado da India portuguesa harmed the military, that is, the reduction of >>> personnel; the quality of armament and obsolete; Salazar's express orders >>> not to surrender by imposing a useless sacrifice on them; the delay in >>> repatriating them after detention; the humiliating way in which the >>> soldiers were received at Cais da Rocha Conde de Óbidos in Lisbon, under >>> the threat of weapons, as if the humiliation of defeat were not enough; the >>> disembarkation of General Vassalo e Silva (the governor-general who opted >>> for the white flag of unconditional surrender) at Lisbon airport on May 16, >>> 1962, in a terminal with the lights off; the stubbornness in not dialoguing >>> with Indian politicians to save face; all these mistakes ruined the >>> prestige of the military. >>> >>> The most lucid officers who passed through the Military Academy became >>> aware that they were treated like objects, like chess pieces manipulated by >>> a single player called Salazar, although sometimes, certain ministers, such >>> as Adriano Moreira (colonies) or Franco Nogueira (foreign affairs) were >>> allowed to execute one or another random move. >>> >>> Then followed the second cause (and this time fatal), that is, the war >>> in Africa, which lasted 14 years (1961/75) and was very exhausting. While >>> Washington was facing a Vietnam, Lisbon's cross-eyed vision was focused, >>> simultaneously, on three Vietnams. >>> >>> The strategy in general and the tactics in the details, in the dense >>> mantle of the tropical forest, outlined by the African liberation movements >>> and mainly by FRELIMO (Mozambique) and PAIGC (Guinea and Cape Verde) were >>> precise, surgical, overwhelming, cunning, forcing the Portuguese troops to >>> unfold in complex, strenuous, unproductive, treacherous and relentless >>> work. The willful African guerrilla was in his land, in his element, he >>> knew where he was and what he was doing, despite heavy casualties, >>> especially among the native civilian population, for lack of heavy war >>> material on their part. The compulsive Portuguese sweated in the torrid >>> heat, burned with high fevers in the mosquito jungle, vomited on the rugged >>> savannahs, was greatly affected by psychological distress, and was highly >>> unmotivated. And above all, he shed blood. Far from his homeland, in that >>> colony of chicken cafreal or piri-piri, at mealtimes in the barracks >>> canteen in front of “once more beans with beans”, he dreamed of cod fish >>> and Portuguese stew. What was he defending, …colonies in the 20th century? >>> All this and much more led him to utter frustration and dissatisfaction. >>> >>> It was estimated at 8,000 deaths, but Pedro Marquês de Sousa, lieutenant >>> colonel of the Army, the investigator and also a professor at the Military >>> Academy, after intense research, he reached much heavier numbers: almost >>> 10,500 soldiers died and more than 30,000 were injured. This information is >>> compiled in the book "The Numbers of the African War" >>> >>> In summary: The defeat in India, the great unstoppable tide of African >>> guerrilla warfare, the anti-colonialist storms in international forums, the >>> attack by white extremists on the officers' mess in the city of Beira >>> (Mozambique), the first outbreaks in the barracks in Lisbon, the >>> proclamation of the independence of Guinea-Bissau in Madina de Boé in 1973, >>> and, finally, the publication of “Portugal e o Futuro”, the book by general >>> Spínola, were the factors, among others, that catapulted the troops to the >>> “now or never”. For an impartial observer, those who fought a lot during 14 >>> years against the Salazar dictatorship were the African nationalists and >>> the captains of Abril only appeared in the final phase taking advantage of >>> the efforts of others. Didn't Salazar claim that Portugal of all colors >>> went from Minho to Timor? Well, the «black Portuguese» revolted in 1961 and >>> fought until 1974. And in that last year, the «white Portuguese» appeared >>> in the capital of the empire with the chaimite ( armored vehicle) and >>> the rest is history. >>> >>> If the oppressed had remained with their arms crossed in a peaceful >>> attitude, apathetic, mute as stones, if it weren't for the colonial war, >>> Portugal (dictatorship) the "last domino stone" would not have fallen. >>> Samora Machel, the guerrilla fighter and the first President of the >>> People's Republic of Mozambique, said at a rally in central Mozambique: - >>> “We never fought against the Portuguese people, our fight was against >>> Portuguese colonialism. Comrades! We, also, freed the people of Portugal.” >>> The African guerrilla is the father of democracy in Portugal. The movement >>> of the Portuguese captains, the stepfather. >>> >>> The imaginary Velho do Restelo was absolutely right who, at the moment >>> of Vasco da Gama's fleet leaving the Tagus, reproached the commander, >>> asking him “What new disasters do you determine / Taking these kingdoms and >>> these people / What dangers, what deaths do you intend for them” (Camões >>> *). In fact, the Portuguese would be stripping their own house, and chasing >>> a chimera in the distance. >>> >>> Pedro Mascarenhas >>> >>> 25/04/2023 >>> >>> * Luis de Camões, Portugal’s great national poet, author of the epic >>> poem *Os Lusíadas* (1572), which describes Vasco da Gama discovery of >>> the sea route to India. >>> >>> [image: Inline image] >>> >>> the chaimite ( armored vehicle) in Lisbon >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Portuguese: >>> >>> A quem atribuir a paternidade do 25 de abril em Portugal? >>> >>> As raízes do "coup d'etat"! Foi uma sublevação espontânea ou um ato >>> forçado por alguém? A propósito do golpe de estado militar ocorrido em >>> Portugal no dia 25 de abril de 1974, e que agora completa 49 anos, alguns >>> historiadores e comentadores políticos creem que a ideia começou a ser >>> germinado no dia 19 de dezembro de 1961 na Índia, quando as forças >>> militares portuguesas se renderam gerando um profundo mal-estar entre os >>> oficiais de todos os ramos. Foi a primeira pedra do dominó colonial a >>> tombar e a primeira longínqua causa do golpe. As outras quatro cairiam mais >>> tarde: Moçambique, Angola, Guiné-Bissau e Portugal. >>> >>> Os subterfúgios que o regime ditatorial utilizou no pomposamente chamado >>> “estado da Índia portuguesa” prejudicaram a reputação dos militares, ou >>> seja, a redução dos efetivos; a qualidade de armamento, já em si obsoleto; >>> as ordens expressas de Salazar para não se renderem, impondo-lhes um >>> sacrifício inútil ; a demora em repatriá-los após a detenção; o modo >>> humilhante como os soldados foram recebidos no Cais da Rocha Conde de >>> Óbidos em Lisboa, sob a ameaça das armas, como se não bastasse a humilhação >>> da derrota; o desembarque do general Vassalo e Silva ( o governador-geral >>> que optou pela bandeira branca da rendição incondicional ) no aeroporto de >>> Lisboa no dia 16 de Maio de 1962, num terminal com as luzes apagadas; a >>> teimosia em não dialogar com os políticos indianos para salvar as >>> aparências; todos estes equívocos arruinaram o prestígio dos militares. >>> >>> Os oficiais mais lúcidos que passaram pela Academia Militar tomaram >>> consciência de que foram tratados como objetos, como peças de xadrez >>> manipulados por um único jogador chamado Salazar, embora por vezes, a >>> certos ministros, como Adriano Moreira (colónias) ou Franco Nogueira >>> (negócios estrangeiros) fosse permitido executar um ou outro lance >>> fortuito. >>> >>> Seguiu-se depois a segunda causa (e, desta vez fatal), isto é, a guerra >>> em África, longa de 14 anos (1961/75) e muito desgastante. Enquanto >>> Washington enfrentava um Vietname, os olhos vesgos de Lisboa recaíam, >>> simultaneamente, sobre três Vietnames. >>> >>> A estratégia em geral e as táticas nos pormenores, no denso manto da >>> floresta tropical, delineadas pelos movimentos de libertação e >>> principalmente pela FRELIMO (Moçambique) e PAIGC (Guiné e Cabo Verde) foram >>> precisas, cirúrgicas, avassaladoras, ardilosas, obrigando as tropas >>> portuguesas a desdobrarem-se em trabalhos complexos, extenuantes, >>> improdutivos, traiçoeiros e sem tréguas. O guerrilheiro africano >>> voluntarioso estava na sua terra, no seu elemento, sabia onde estava e o >>> que fazia, trazia consigo a força da raiva contra o racismo, a injustiça e >>> a exploração. Era considerado de raça inferior pelo colono. É verdade >>> que sofreu grandes baixas, sobretudo entre a população civil nativa, por >>> falta de material bélico pesado da sua parte. Por seu lado, o português >>> fardado e compulsivo suava no calor tórrido, ardia de febres altas na selva >>> dos mosquitos, vomitava nas savanas acidentadas, martirizava-se afetado >>> pelo sofrimento psicológico e estava altamente desmotivado. E, sobretudo, >>> derramava sangue em território alheio. Longe da sua terra, naquela colónia >>> do frango à cafreal ou piri-piri, à hora das refeições na cantina do >>> quartel perante o “mais uma vez o feijão com feijão”, sonhava com o >>> bacalhau e o cozido à portuguesa. Os ouvidos à noite sem luar captavam >>> longínquas batucadas assustadoras ao mesmo tempo que almejava o rock do >>> Elvis Presley, os viras do Minho e fados ainda que tristes. >>> >>> Estava a defender o quê, …colónias, em pleno século XX? Tudo isso e >>> muito mais levou-o à frustração e insatisfação total. >>> >>> Estimava-se em 8.000 mortes, mas Pedro Marquês de Sousa, tenente-coronel >>> do Exército, o investigador e também professor na Academia Militar depois >>> de muito trabalho de pesquisa chegou a números bem mais pesados: morreram >>> quase 10.500 militares e ficaram feridos mais de 30.000. Essas informações >>> estão compiladas no livro "Os Números da Guerra de África” >>> >>> Em resumo: A derrota na Índia, a grande maré imparável da guerrilha >>> africana, as tempestades anticolonialistas nos fóruns internacionais, o >>> ataque dos brancos extremistas à messe dos oficiais na cidade da Beira >>> (Moçambique), os primeiros rebentamentos nos quartéis na dita metrópole, a >>> proclamação da independência da Guiné em Madina de Boé em 1973, e, >>> finalmente, a publicação de Portugal e o Futuro, o livro de Spínola, foram >>> os fatores que, entre outros, catapultaram a tropa para o “agora ou nunca”. >>> Para um observador imparcial quem mais lutou durante 14 anos contra a >>> ditadura salazarista foram os nacionalistas africanos e os capitães do >>> abril só apareceram na fase final tirando proveito do esforço alheio. Não >>> afirmava Salazar que Portugal de todas as cores ia do Minho a Timor? Pois >>> bem, os «portugueses morenos» revoltaram-se em 1961 e lutaram até 1974. E >>> nesse último ano, os «portugueses claros» mostraram-se na capital do >>> império com os blindados chaimite e o resto é história. >>> >>> Se os oprimidos tivessem ficado de braços cruzados em atitude pacífica, >>> apáticos, mudos como as pedras, se não fosse a guerra colonial, Portugal >>> (ditadura) a "última pedra de dominó " não teria caído. Samora Machel, o >>> guerrilheiro, que viria a ser o primeiro Presidente da República Popular de >>> Moçambique num comício no centro de Moçambique disse: - “Nunca lutamos >>> contra o povo português, a nossa luta foi contra o colonialismo português. >>> Camaradas! Nós, também, libertamos o povo de Portugal.” >>> >>> A guerrilha africana, é o pai da democracia em Portugal. O movimento dos >>> capitães portugueses, o padrasto. >>> Tinha toda a razão o imaginário Velho do Restelo que no momento da >>> partida do Tejo da armada de Vasco da Gama censurou o comandante, >>> perguntando-lhe “A que novos desastres determinas /De levar estes reinos e >>> esta gente / Que perigos, que mortes lhe destinas” (Camões). Na verdade, os >>> portugueses, estariam a desguarnecer a sua própria casa, perseguindo, lá >>> longe, uma quimera. >>> >>> Pedro Mascarenhas >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/1633277108.166670.1682416901071%40mail.yahoo.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/1633277108.166670.1682416901071%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Goa-Research-Net" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAMCR53L_uUQRB6sNmVepJUXmpk%2BYUtvUPYv9c5AejaHqnEN1bg%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAMCR53L_uUQRB6sNmVepJUXmpk%2BYUtvUPYv9c5AejaHqnEN1bg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > Pedro Mascarenhas > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Goa-Research-Net" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAKgQwHAUwVcnRgrw8v2YAa0Y--Sa%2BXna-XXvTRwZNTqvh0WFbg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAKgQwHAUwVcnRgrw8v2YAa0Y--Sa%2BXna-XXvTRwZNTqvh0WFbg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. 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