I often wonder what did Freedom Fighters like Lohia, Loyola and Furtado really want.
I hear they wanted freedom. But did they really get that freedom? Did Goans get freedom of choice to decide their future democratically through a plebiscite? The answer is obvious. I also hear they wanted liberation. Did Goans get liberated? The answer is: yes, they got liberated from the Portuguese but at the same time they got conquered by the neighbouring country called Indian Union who could not care less for the Goan demands of a formal democratic plebiscite to decide their own future. The Indian Union did not have any valid legal stand at all to claim Goa from the Goans. It was plain conquest. In early 1500s, XVI century, Goan Hindus approached the Portuguese and requested help to free Goa from Muslim rule. They were of course fooled and Goa ended up being conquered by the Portuguese. In 1961, four and a half centuries later, history repeats itself. What may have seemed to be a fight from Goans for the freedom of Goa ended up being the conquest of Goa by the Indian Union, on 19th Dec 1961. Such is the Goan faith. Sincerely, I feel disgusted with so many of you who are stubborn enough to claim Goans have been liberated when all the evidence shows exactly the opposite. Lets face it. We are conquered. Not liberated. Despite what the Government of Goa may say that the people of Goa rules in Goa (regarding SEZ and other things), we all know that it is Delhi and Mumbai that decides the future of Goa, definitely not the people of Goa. It is a sad story. This is a Goan story. Paulo Colaco Dias. -----Original Message----- From: J. Colaco < jc> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 17 June 2008 13:53 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! Subject: June 18 -- Muito obrigado por nada Eugene Correia wrote: 1: Whenever I pass the now-named Lohia Maidan in Margao, I stand and imagine what may have been the scene that fateful day when Ram Manohar Lohia was arrested along with his comrade friend Dr. Loyola 2: Goa has come a long way from the days of Alvares. Today, it stands at the crossroads of history. It has progressed undoubtedly, but in the progress there have been many pitfalls. I 3: In Goa today, it would be wise to look at the development models from both the socialist and the capitalist perspective. 4: In the awakened state that Goa finds itself now, it is pertinent to remember the significance of June 18. The day awakened Goa to a new movement that ultimately culmitated in Goa become free from Portuguese rule. This June 18 Goan must resolve that the sleeping giant that is the Goan masses must not be allowed to go back to sleep and instead keep rumbling. 5: June 18 should also signal the day for a total revolution against corrupt ministers, panch and other public officials. Then only Goa could be saved and preserved. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1505 - Release Date: 16/06/2008 07:20
