Roque Santana ‘father of Goan Democracy’. *…ref Kadamba’s of South India, Our proud heritage. The secrets of Velim.*
On the eve of 17th June, 1955 history almost repeated for this family when Avelino’s son Roque Santana was mortally injured by the Portuguese forces in Chandor, South Goa in their attempt to free the Salcete island. It is said that he was considered dead, many locals recollect that it was at that time words came out of Avelino’s mouth of the historical bad luck for the family at Chandrapura but never gave up hope and postponed the last rites. It is a historical fact that Prime minister Nehru’s warning statement for Portuguese, carried by newspapers in Goa and Bombay on the Roque Santana shooting in Chandor lead to his better medical treatment had saved his life. Same locals say Roque Santana true to his ancestry the young worrier survived and went on to be recognized as the single hand force in Goa, This type of Portuguese attacks on the locals prompted Prime minister Nehru to take action. On 19th Dec 1961 Goa was liberated by the Indian armed forces, along with other freedom fighters Roque Santana was released from prison. Well wishers joined his father and family to welcomed him home with waving palm leaves. It was celebration time for all but for father and son it was more a personal victory. We see the unfold of his unique personality in a 1987 interview with the Portuguese national TV when RoqueSantana forgive the old Portuguese reign and expressed his reconciliation with the democratic people of Portugal. On June17th 1962 Roque Santana announced to the world from this historical Veliapura compound in the presence of Mr. Gopala Handoo representative of Prime Minister Nehru and his father Mr. Avelino that he wants Democracy for his people-the Goans at the end of his three day ‘Satayagraha’, from there on is popularly known as father of Goan Democracy. The whole pre and post liberation Goan history bear his name. He was elected to State legislative Assembly twice and was awarded a national award by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for his contribution to Goan freedom struggle. ______________________________________________________________________ On 12th January 2007, Roque Santana suffered a sudden cardiac arrest near their palatial estate in New York City following a ice skating trip with his grandson in midtown Manhattan and was rushed to Brook dale Hospital, Brooklyn, USA. He did not recovered and was pronounced dead by the Doctors working on him. After canceling the Indian Armed forces gun salute State funeral at Velim the status fit for his qualification, his body was cremated in Canarase a seaside red indian village in Brooklyn, the village name similar to Canarese, Origin of Kadamba’s. His mortal remains were flown in this country and laid to rest along with his royal ancestors in Veliapura sacred grounds, at the hands of Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Digamber Kamat. On 15th Jan 2007, all the 40 legislature of the Vidhan Sabba, The Goa State Legislative Assembly met in a session to observe the state of mourning through a motion introduced on the floor of the house by Cabinet Minister Mr.Philip Neri Rodrigues. In 2009 Roque Santana Memorial Foundation awarded The first prestigious crystal ‘Roque Santana-Father of Goan Democracy award’ to late Dr.Jack de Sequira former Leader of opposition-Goa for his role during the famous Goan opinion poll in 1967.
