Explained: How Goa Was Liberated And Made A Part Of India

The territory of India as we know today was not the same on and even after almost a decade after independence. Territories on the western side like Goa, Daman and Due were not part of India rather Portuguese colonies. And it took two days of military action to bring them into the Indian Union we know today.

According to the official website of Goa Government, ¡°The fact is that the unfortunate colonial phase in India¡¯s history both started and ended with Goa. This was the very first colony of any western European power in India. The Portuguese conquistadore Afonso de Albuquerque captured the Island of Goa (now known as Tiswadi taluka) on 25 November 1510, as many as 16 years before the Emperor Babar, founder of the Mughal dynasty, conquered Delhi on 21 April 1526.¡±

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Goa came under Indian state after the armed action code-named ¡®Operation Vijay¡¯ by the Indian Armed Forces. It involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours during which Goa was liberated from 450 years of Portuguese rule.

Estado da India was the collective name for the Portuguese enclaves in India. They were the first colonial holding in India, having been established in the 1400s. It was made up of the Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli districts. Portugal retained its colonies after India gained independence from the British Empire in August 1947.

Movement against Portuguese rule in Goa was going on for decades

After years of negotiations, the government decided to use the armed forces to expel the Portuguese from Goa and other enclaves in late 1961. As a result, India began making preparations in November 1961.

This was India¡¯s first Tri-Service ¡®Integrated¡¯ operation where the Indian Navy was tested in battle. The Southern Army's Lt. Gen. Chaudhari dispatched the 17 Infantry Division, led by Major General K.P. Candeth, as well as the 50th Para Brigade, 63 infantry brigade and the 48 infantry brigade.

One infantry battalion, the 1st Maratha LI, was sent to the capture of Daman. The mission of retaking Diu was divided between two battalions: the 20th Rajput and the 4th Madras.

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Air Force was asked to assist this enormous ground force with support elements

Air Vice Marshal Erlic Pinto, the AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command, has been named theatre commander of the air forces in this operation. Pinto's headquarters were in Poona, and he was in charge of all operations in Daman, Diu, and Goa.

Preliminary operations began on December 17 with the capture of the border village of Maulinguem. To avoid escalation, the Portuguese High Command refused engagement and counter-action clearance, limiting the options available to their ground forces. The major offensive began the next day at 0400 hrs.

The official liberation of Goa began on December 18th, with the Indian Army's 50th Para Brigade advancing into the state in three columns.

Major-General K.P. Candeth was in charge of the Indian army. Because the Portuguese were outmanned, their defence was ineffective. At the same time, air attacks and naval combat were taking place.

The Portuguese President advocated for a "scorched earth" approach, implying that Goa should be destroyed before being relinquished.

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However, due to his soldiers' poor position, Governor General Silva decided to surrender to the Indian forces. The formal surrender took place on December 19, 1961, marking the end of 451 years of Portuguese control in Goa. The successful operation led to the Incorporation of the Portuguese colonial territories of Goa, Daman and Diu into the Republic of India

Goa, Daman, and Diu were declared a Union Territory directly under the President of India after the Portuguese governor general surrendered, and Major-General K. P. Candeth was appointed as its military governor. The battle had lasted two days and claimed the lives of 22 Indians and 30 Portuguese.

Indian action in Goa received a mixed response from the international community

Countries like the US, UK, Brazil condemned Indian action while Soviet Egypt supported India¡¯s course. The Soviet even blocked UN Security Council resolutions against India¡¯s actions. At the end of the event Portugal terminated all diplomatic ties with India, refused to recognise Goa as part of India while calling it aggression on its land. Only in 1974 did Portugal recognise Goa as a part of India and resume diplomatic relations

On 8 June 1962, military administration was replaced by civilian government when the Lieutenant Governor nominated an informal Consultative Council of 29 nominated members to assist him in the administration of the territory. In 1987 Goa was made a state within the union of India.

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