Goa Revolution Day: Know history, date, significance and story behind this Kranti Din’ celebration

Goa Revolution Day, also known as ‘Kranti Din, is remembered as one of the most defining events in the history of the state which is celebrated on June 18 every year.

 On this day in 1946, the people of the region started a mass revolution to take back their homeland from the Portuguese. Finally, it gained independence on December 19, 1961.

Goa Revolution Day is observed to recall valour and sacrifice of freedom fighters who fought for the liberation of Goa.

Goa Revolution Day start?

The start of the Goa Revolution was marked by a civil disobedience movement against the Portuguese rule on June 18, 1946, at Margao by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr Julião Menezes.

Lohia and Menezes introduction

Menezes was born in Assolna who studied in Goa before going to Berlin University in the 1920s to study medicine. He met Lohia, who hailed from Akbarpur in Uttar Pradesh, at the university. Both of them actively participated in the Indian Students’ Union in Berlin. While Lohia returned to India after his PhD in 1933, Menezes returned to his homeland after completing his MD in 1938.

They remained connected and Menezes, it is believed, offered Lohia refuge when he went underground during the Quit India Movement.

Start of the movement

The two leaders namely Lohia and Menezes decided to defy the ban on public meetings imposed by the Portuguese government, which sparked the first civil disobedience movement in Goa.

On June 15, 1946, the two addressed a gathering at Panjim. While the police remained posted at the spot but did not intervene in the meeting.

Following the success of the meeting in Panjim, the two came to Margao square on June 18 and a massive crowd welcomed them. Addressing the crowd, they gave a call to shake off the Portuguese rule and create an independent Goa.

The two were arrested and taken to Panjim police station where Lohia was given a solitary confinement. Later, Lohia was released from prison and deported to British India.

EBNW Story on Google News

Published at :

EBNW Story is managed by students of Saksham Sanchar Foundation. If you like the efforts to make #BrilliantBharat, you can encourage them through donation - Thank you