--- On Mon, 6/22/09, Samir Kelekar <[email protected]> wrote: > > For the topic in question, how does it matter where Lohia > was born, > assuming he was born in UP ? > > Lohia was an Indian first and last. > > regards, > Samir --------------------------------------------- Yes, it matters, very much where Lohia was from and who exactly Lohia was. By the time he arrived in Goa, Lohia was already a national figure, closely associated with the Gandhian movement. It was imperative that the "liberation" of Goa be seen by the world as an Indian nationalist movement, that it was in the eyes of the world linked to freedom fighters who had led the charge in India. Hence, we celebrate 18th June as liberation day and have 18th June Road as the main artery of Goa. Let us not be naive as to how history is constructed and who it is constructed by. I reiterate, there are far more illustrious Goan fighters, who had started the fight long before Lohia called on Goans to agigate, routinely shipped off to Portugal or Portugal's colonies in Africa. Heroes that have long been forgotten and written off our history pages. Their records lying only in dustry archives. After liberation, a convenient myth was created that Goan Catholics were pro-Portuguese at the time of liberation; a myth that continues to be perpetuated in obvious or subtle way, either through the dialogue on language or religion. A convenient myth which then justifies the marginalisation of Goan Catholics. Best, selma
