Miguel Hi, I refer to your post. Macau was a territory part of a country called China. The same country is still called China even today. So, I think it is obvious that Macau should be returned to China unless, of course, the same was against the wishes of the people from Macau (the Macaenses and the Chinese born in Macau). Goa was not part of a country called India for the simple reason a country called India did not exist in 1510. At the most the Indian sub-continent existed. But it was not a single well defined country called India.
As you must know the Indian sub-continent was governed by Maharajas and composed by several princely states. The current map of Goa was increased by the Portuguese. It was not exactly that way in 1510 (velhas conquistas + novas conquistas later on). So, the current map of Goa is actually a Portuguese creation. If it was not for the Portuguese, Goa would probably be a very small seaside city and today a part of the state of Maharastra and of course, we would be, predominantly, Hindus (note well: I do not mean any prejudice here and I am very well aware that my ancestors were Hindus, in fact I even know the name of my Hindu ancestor baptized to the catholic faith and born sometime around the beginning of the 17th century). This is all possible to find out due to the excellent records kept by the Portuguese, which I must say, are unique in the world. When the British reached the Indian sub-continent and decided to take over, there was no country called India. At the most, there was a region called India or a sub-continent called India, so large and vast that it was governed by different local rulers for each princely state. The joining together of all princely states under the government of the British Monarchy was definitely a British initiative. Had they not ruled over all these princely states, had they not brought them together, perhaps there would not be a country called India today. Instead we would perhaps have the same princely states we had prior to the arrival of the Europeans. When the British decided to give independence to the British India, they gave independence to the same princely states they conquered. These states became then independent and were then persuaded by Nehru and Patel to merge and it was only then that the Indian Union was created, (which we now call the Republic of India). For further reference, please check the Manipur's case documented very well at: (provides a good background to the process that followed the independence of British India and the instruments of accession and merger signed by almost all princely states made independent in 1947 by the British): http://www.manipuronline.com/Opinions/September2002/annexation26_1.htm So, the country called India (read Republic of India like it is today) only came to existence after 1947. So, I think this is why so many Goans deny Goa was a part of India before. Granted that it was in the Indian sub-continent, but Goa was not part of a country called India before, simply because that country did not exist before. So what would have happened to Goa if India had not taken over by force in 1961? I do not know for sure. But chances are that Goa would have been under Portuguese rule at least until the democratic revolution of 1974 (just like all other provinces). After that, Goa would have been given the choice of integration with the Indian Union or independence from Portugal. One thing for sure, the opinion of the Goans would have been asked in 1974/1975, and the wishes of the majority would have been respected. Unfortunately, under the Indian Union, we were never asked anything. And this is why I personally do not consider it was liberation. Because nobody asked us what we wanted. Today, we will never know for sure how many people were in favour of an independent state and how many people were in favour of a merger with the Indian Union. And this is the reason why we are a united bunch! Because we were never asked anything and we are still in disagreement. We were abused and forced to comply or leave our own motherland! And many of us did! Yes, I know what many people will say about it would have been impossible to be independent and all that crap. While I agree India would have never allowed it, it would have been good to our ego and minds to have the choice. And if we had decided to embrace that option instead of embracing the Indian Union, the UN resolutions would have guaranteed us the right to be independent. But, unfortunately, we were always denied the choice and our opinion was never asked. I am sorry, but I cannot call that liberation. Best regards, Paulo Colaco Dias. -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Braganza [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: s�bado, 6 de Setembro de 2003 17:15 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Goanet]RE: COLACO 2.that "Macau was in fact recognized as a Chinese Territory under Portuguese Administration" unlike Goa,which theGovernmentof Portugal till the 1980s ,and the salazarists till now,denied was a part of India. 3.that after" 1974, following the democratic revolution in Portugal" the process of handing over Macau gained momentum. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
