Honouring freedom fighter Antonio Furtado

Antonio Furtado ” a freedom fighter whose legacy is showcased at the Sinquerim-based Aguad Interactive Museum: Goa “ The Land, The Struggle, The People” was born on December 11, 1898, in Carmona, Salcete.  In 1925, while still a law student in Lisbon, Furtado and Telo Mascarenhas set up  a centre to propagate Indian art and culture. After graduating, he was appointed the administrator of Comunidades of Goa and member of the Administrative Tribunal. In 1950, he refused to sign the Government’s statement countering Pandit Nehru’s statement on the future of Goa, inviting the wrath of the authorities. Furtado’s house was put under police surveillance and on April 16, 1950, he escaped to Belgaum with his wife Berta Menezes Bragança. There the couple published several nationalist pamphlets including Free Goa, co-operated with the NCG, working closely with Dr T B Cunha and Dr Pandurang Jambaulikar.  When Nagar Haveli was liberated in 1954, the Government of Bombay invited Furtado to work as the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. He was also a member of the Goan Political Convention and after Liberation, he was appointed the Additional Judicial Commissioner. He was honoured by the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu on June 18, 1986.