A huge statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been installed near the Calangute Police Station of the Saligao-Calangute border. Well, some say that the reason for doing so is because they claim that he has saved Hindus in the state from forcible religious conversions during the former Portuguese regime. Our Goan leaders also suffered at the hands of the former Portuguese rulers whilst fighting to uphold the basic fundamental rights of Goans, especially during Goa's liberation struggle? Goa was completely freed (forget the Portuguese) from Maharashtra only after the liberation during the opinion poll by none other than Dr Jack Sequeira. And if at all we need to install statues then it should be of this great Goan gentleman in every part of Goa. Secondly, the Portuguese ruled Goa almost for 450 years (i.e. 1510 - 1961) and Shivaji lived from 1630 - 1680, ruling mostly parts of Maharashtra. I therefore personally feel that people should try to bring out some facts about his personal life to keep the unique identity/communal harmony of Goans intact.
