MILESTONES OF GOA

Goa Revolution Day
“Goa Revolution Day” is commemorated annually on 18th June, to honour the freedom fighters and martyrs, ushered the dawn of democracy in 1946 on this very date when the Indian Socialist leader, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, courted arrest on June 18, 1946, by defiantly addressing a mammoth meeting at Margao and called on the youth to break the shackles of foreign rule. Dr. Lohia launched a unique mass Satyagraha for civil liberties and thus set the freedom movement in Goa rolling ahead in conjunction with the national freedom struggle launched by the Father of Nation through his stirring historic cal to alien rulers to Quit India.

Goa Liberation Day
The ouster of Portuguese fascist oppressors came in a most dramatic manner thorough Indian Army’s Operation Vijay on December 19th 1961- ever since commemorated as Goa Liberation Day by the people of Goa traditionally united into a diligent, fraternal, peaceful, progressive and democratic community. Scant resistance was offered by the Portuguese forces and with hardly any bloodshed, Goa, Daman and Diu was liberated from Portuguese rule and became part of the Indian Union. The Indian National Flag was hoisted in Goa, Daman and Diu. On December 20, 1961, Major General K. P. Candeth took over as Military Governor of Goa, Daman and Diu from the Portuguese Governor General Manuel Antonio Vasallo e Silva.

Opinion Poll Day
On January 16, 1967, an Opinion Poll, the first ever in the Country was held to ascertain the wishes of the people: whether or not Goa should be merged with Maharashtra and Daman and Diu with Gujarat. The result was declared on January 18, 1967 and the people decided to continue as Union Territory and rejected the merger.

Official Language Day
The Legislative Assembly passed a bill on February 4, 1987 making Konkani the Official Language of the State. The Day is observed as the Official Language Day. Konkani was granted recognition in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution on August 20, 1992.

State hood Day
A long cherished dream of the people of Goa turned into joyful reality on 30th May 1987 when their tiny but exceedingly lovely land became the 25th state of the Union. Emerging from the mists of hoary antiquity, the fabled land of Lord Parshurama, after a chequered history marked by vicissitudes of war, conquests and alien domination, renowned as olden Goa long before the arrival and settlement of the Portuguese, finally had its own glorious tryst with destiny on this red –letter day.

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