Margao
Citizens from Assolna, Velim and Cuncolim have once again called for recognition of Dr Juliao Menezes as an unsung hero of Goa Revolution Day, following Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai’s visit to Dr Menezes’ ancestral home in Assolna on Wednesday.
The Governor paid tribute to both Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr Juliao Menezes by offering flowers at their portraits.
He was joined by Velim MLA Cruz Silva, the Sarpanch and members of the Assolna panchayat, Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Committee president Oscar Martins, and others.
During a brief interaction, Martins urged the Governor to officially recognise Dr Menezes for inviting Dr Lohia to Assolna, which helped start the movement against Portuguese rule.
“Dr Menezes and Dr Lohia were friends while studying in Germany. They both believed in socialist ideas and often spoke about Portuguese rule in Goa. It was Dr Menezes who invited Dr Lohia to his house in Assolna, where they planned to go to Margao and begin the movement,” Martins said.
He added that the government should honour Dr Menezes by converting a room in his ancestral house into a museum and building a suitable memorial at Lohia Chowk in Assolna, which could be renamed as Lohia-Menezes Chowk.
“The Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Committee will take up the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure justice for Dr Menezes,” he said.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva supported the demand and said he would follow up on the long-pending request to include Dr Menezes in history books. “I will raise this matter in the Goa Legislative Assembly during the upcoming monsoon session. I will also hold a meeting with the Assolna panchayat and local citizens to discuss how to move forward in getting Dr Menezes the recognition he deserves for his role in the Goa Revolution Day movement,” he said.
