PANAJI
Lesser-known details of Operation Vijay and Goa’s Liberation will be published for the first time in India as Penguin Vintage launches the book ‘Goa, 1961: The Complete Story of Nationalism and Integration’ by noted writer and former Margao mayor Valmiki Faleiro on July 24.
In his book, Faleiro outlines the prevailing political atmosphere and its changing character, the part played by indigenous independence movements and freedom fighters leading to the liberation of Goa, and the impact of its consequent assimilation into India.
‘Goa, 1961’ which is extensively researched is considered a seminal book on an important subject and a must-read for anyone interested in Indian history.
The book starts with the background of occupation of Goa by the Portuguese in 1510 – the first foreign occupier in India, older than the Mughals. It deals with history of the resistance put up by natives of Salcete against the colonial occupier barely 15 years from the time Salcete came under Portuguese rule.
It provides a backdrop of life and politics in Goa, in the face of changing political and economic vicissitudes in Portugal, and the birth of local nationalism.
‘Goa, 1961’ traces the rise of Dr Antonio Oliveira Salazar, his assuming dictatorial powers in 1928, his Colonial Act of 1930 that made Goans ‘objects of possession’ of Portugal, the genesis of the nationalistic movement, the non-violent steps taken by India for 14 long years (1947-1961) – diplomacy, an economic blockade (including two innovative ways of smuggling gold across the border by resourceful Goans!), satyagraha, United Nations and third party intervention, backstage diplomacy and sabotage.
‘Goa, 1961’ provides a detailed account of India’s military operation that relieved the colonial yoke and its aftermath – locally, in India and across the world (Portugal was an European country, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO). It is the first book to shed light on all aspects of a story little understood at best or misunderstood at worst.
Some little-known details of Operation Vijay are being published for the first time in India. CIA reports of 1961, declassified and approved for release on March 26, 2014, are also cited for the first time.
The book deals with the aftermath of the invasion, what India and the world said, Nehru’s volte-face regards the future of Goa (annexation instead of self-determination), the rewards the Congress party harvested at Goa’s first free elections (‘Goa ke log ajeeb hain!’), the nexus with the China aggression ten months later, and most of all, exposes the myths and fallacies that gained currency in Goa post 1961 including that Goan Catholics were un-Indian, pro-Portuguese, anti-national … ‘fit to be deported to Portugal’.
One of Goa's home-grown prolific writers, Faleiro was a staff reporter with the West Coast Times. He also covered Goa for national publications like the Current Weekly, the Free Press Journal group of publications and the Indian Express. As a freelancer before that, he contributed articles and features to various journals.
