In retrospect, those who didn't like India taking Goa by military force were happy at the thought Ihat breached International law. The UN too said in no small terms. I read Leo Lawrence's book, Nehru Seizes Goa, a long time ago and also Prof. Arthur Rubinoff's India's Use of Force in Goa. One of the issues I would like to tackle if I get accepted to the Ph. D program is to seek people's views on Annexation vs Liberation issue. Is the issue dead, now that Goa is "integral part" of India? Some may have feel for loss of Portuguese rule and the benefits gained by people, especially people in the Upper Crust of Society. Today, the plateau is even and, despite the political ill-winds blowing randomly to disturb the solemnity of communal harmony that Goa is famous for, the overall picture is rather pleasant, not exceedingly good. Past history is to be recollected and praised for what it did for Goa. The portents for Portuguese rule coming to an end was visible but Portugal refused to see them. The self-rule aspect was an option that Portugal should have followed to its letter and spirit. Today, we have Facebook or WhatsApp groups named Goans for Goa, Niz Goenkar, etc, which, to me, are just echoes in the gusty winds blowing from the ocean. Goans feel proud to belong to Goa and imbibe the Portuguese spirit --- and wine. As we near the coming of Christmas, let's rejoice in what was once a fine example of Luso culture. The strains are still found in the present-day Goa and as time rolls on and new generations of Goans spring up, the Portuguese interlude will be completely relegated to the back. However, nostalgia for things Portuguese will remain and the youngsters need to learn how their elders lived under Portuguese masters. Cheers in advance to a happy Christmas season, and blessings to the Portuguese for coming to Goa and doing "fuloi, fuloi", a period not to be easily forgotten.
Eugene Correia On Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 4:47 AM John de Figueiredo <[email protected]> wrote: > Valmiki Faleiro stated that the economic blockade placed by the Government > of India proved Goa to be perfectly capable of being self-sufficient and he > demonstrated that Goa produced distinguished officers in the army, Air > Force, and navy. So that argument does not seem to be supported by data. > All the pieces of the puzzle were in place but the puzzle was never solved. > John > Sent from my iPhone > > On Dec 12, 2023, at 7:18 PM, Joao Paulo Cota <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Worth pointing out that Monaco does not have any army, air force or navy. > Its defence needs are being provided by France. > Hence the same analogy would mean, India would need to provide that to > Goa, being its immediate neighbour... realistically, I can't see that > happening. > JP > > ------------------------------ > *From:* [email protected] < > [email protected]> on behalf of John de Figueiredo < > [email protected]> > *Sent:* 12 December 2023 23:09 > *To:* [email protected] <[email protected] > > > *Subject:* Re: [GRN] Pamphlets > > Good points, Frederick. > The geographical argument does not count either. > Monaco is of the size of 314 acres, with a population a little over > 36,000, speaking French, and surrounded all 3 sides by France. The third > side is along the sea just as Goa. But Monaco is an independent nation. > Bruto da Costa wanted a plebiscite for the Goans to decide on the future > of Goa. This plebiscite never took place. > At any rate, if flowers became concrete, this conversation is irrelevant > because the Goa we are discussing is no more. > John > Sent from my iPhone > > On Dec 12, 2023, at 4:02 PM, fredericknoronha <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Something makes me want to disagree with quite a few of the comments > made, and conclusions drawn, below: > > (1) My reading is that Portugal dealt with East Timor in the way it did > more due to the turmoil at that time in Portugal itself, the Carnation > Revolution, abrupt change in political direction, etc. Open to correction > here. > > (2) About Goa being a "rich basket", economic studies and other accepted > analyses suggest otherwise. Salazar could have (rightly) seen a "domino > effect" starting in Goa. Something that undercut the plank on which his > ideology was based. Plus, in the Portuguese imagination over centuries, Goa > meant something rather different. Call this emotional reasons, or whatever > you wish. > > (3) "Indian patience ran out" is a shorthand argument which has, > unfortunately, been widely accepted in our perspective on the issue. If you > read the trajectory of events as outlined in Valmiki Faleiro's recent book, > you might conclude otherwise. > > (4) 1961 in Goa has to be also viewed in the context of the Cold War. Some > studies here have begun looking in that direction. This issue is not only > about India and Portugal, let alone Goa. > > (5) This "France was wise" or "Portugal could have followed France" logic > has been put forth repeatedly, and seldom challenged. It is based on an > acute misunderstanding of what happened in Pondicherry. For instance, a > perusal of the recently-published *The Portuguese Presence in India* (Notion > Press, 2020) by João A de Menezes, p.198-212, could easily make one > rethink this argument. This argument has come up a few times in this forum > too, and then we end up taking it as accurate. > > FN > > On Wednesday 13 December 2023 at 01:58:43 UTC+5:30 eugene.correia wrote: > > Well, Portugal withdrew from East Timor, as the independence movement was > fierce. I don't think Portugal keeping East Timor as one of its colonies > would be a financial benefit. Seemingly, East Timor was a "basket case' for > Portugal while Goa was a "rich basket". Colonial politics in those times > rested on "gains and loses" and Portugal let go off of East Timor but > reluctantly held on to Goa. > As events proved later on, Indian patience ran out. Knowing well that > Salszar would find it difficult to keep Goa in its embrace by > engaging India in a war, it was a walk-over as we know it. Goa's freedom > did ring a bell in African countries and the Non-Alignment Movement gained > momentum and slowly but surely the continent of Africa was free of colonial > rule. No self-respecting people like subjugation by a foreign power when > the people's consciousness and national pride comes to the fore. > What would happen to Goa if it continued to be under Portuguese rule is > nobody's guess. France was wise, as it earned respect. Portugal was humbled > and disgraced. 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