Today is a historic day in the history of Goa. On this day, in 1946, an unarmed Ram Manohar Lohia took on the might of the armed Portuguese empire. On this day, Dr. Lohia and several thousand Goans defied Portuguese law to converge on an open ground in Margao, Salcette, Goa to demand the colony's freedom. A policeman is said to have aimed a pistol at Dr Lohia wherupon the freedom-fighter held his hand saying, "If you shoot me, do you know what will happen to you?" The policeman backed off. Dr. Lohia and his companions were placed under arrest. After Goa's liberation, the venue of that historic meeting was christened Dr Lohia Maidan.
This immortal poem written by Goa's no. 1 poet, Dr. Manoharrai Sardessai brings back that historic day to all of us. Otthra June 18 th June by Manohar Sardesai translated from the Konkani by Jaime de Mello and Samir Kelekar A sentence in Konkani Its English translation Udok legit zal'lem rogot Even the water had turned to blood Ani rogot zal'lem hun And the blood had become hot. Bhava tuka iad asa Brother, do you remember Otthra Jun? The 18th of June? Bondkhonniche dukhest chire The sad bricks of the prison Nove axen dhodd'dhoddle Throbbed with new hope, Finrgealem mostem bonder The insolent flag of the foreigner Thorthorot somzolem Trembled with understanding Vavzhoddint vetlem mhonnun It would be swept in the windy rain, Pinzun Pinzun Torn to shreds. Bhava tuka iad asa Brother, do you remember Otthra Jun? The 18th of June? Mongllaracho aslo dis It was a Tuesday, Pavs nettan poddttalo A hard rain was falling, Ambeamullant gavddeapor Under the mango tree, a Gawdi boy Kuddkuddot roddttalo Was shivering and crying, Lokhnnacho ailo purus An iron man appeared Khoim sakun konna khobor Nobody knows from where, Tujea xinvaulean gelim You felt a shudder Amchim bhuzam xinxinvun Running through your shoulders. Thoran poram ailim dhanvot Children came running Konnak khobor khoim sakun From nowhere, Zulmachea tubkantlean The cannons of war Ujeagulle gele suttun Unleashed fire balls, Rogtachi ub mellun The heat of blood Bhuim amchi zali hun Scorched our land. Bhava tuka iad asa Brother, do you remember Otthra Jun? The 18th of June? Soddnnukecho ailo dis The day of liberation arrived, Utthun ubo ravlo monis The people stood upright, Sogle pas poddle tuttun Each and every shackle broken. Bhava tuka iad asa Brother, do you remember Otthra Jun? The 18th of June? Kitle oxe aile gele Many days have gone by Otthra Jun! Like the 18th of June! Ambeamullant Kuddkuddta But, under the mango tree, Gavddeacho por ozun The Gawdi boy still weeps, Bhangrachem Goem amchem And our golden Goa Kitlem asa pois ozun! Remains far beyond our reach! Mollbacho mattov pinzun Let the sky's canopy be torn asunder, Kupam foddun, goddgoddun And clouds broken with the roar of thunder, Zoglachea zhogzhogant And the flash of lightning, Ghiss korun zhogzhogun May the light dazzle, Doddkevori lottun, futtun Rush and break like a storm, Ienv di porot Otthra Jun Let the 18th of June return! Bhava tuka iad asa? Brother, do you remember? Tea disa ugddasan The memories of that day Hodd'ddem mhojem pett'ta oz Still light up my heart. Bhava tuka iad asa Brother, do you remember Otthra Jun? Tne 18th of June? Glossary : "Finrgealem" (derived from `Firangi' meaning foreigner or Portuguese a.k.a "paklo" singular plural meaning "white (man)" in Konkani. Gawdi = aborigine, a native of Goa. --------------------------------------------- Today, we need liberation from the sex-scandalist and other looters of Goa. We have already liberated ourselves from the communal BJP. Let us pledge that we will not rest till we do so. Jai Hind! Samir
