From the fight for Konkani to the dream of statehood, Goa’s journey was shaped by protests, politics, and people determined to protect its identity. This Statehood Day, The Goan walks through the memory lanes of those who witnessed Goa’s journey into statehood
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurating the plaque to declare Goa a State.
May 30, 1987, marked more than a constitutional milestone. It was the day Goa finally stepped into statehood after years of protests, political negotiations, and a deeper struggle to protect its language, identity, and voice. From the fight to secure Konkani as an official language to the decisive moments of the Opinion Poll, Goa’s journey was shaped as much by its people as by its politics. This Statehood Day, The Goan revisits those memory lanes through voices that witnessed the making of modern Goa.
The long road to Statehood
A small state with a long, winding history, Goa’s past is filled with struggles, sacrifices, and moments of victory. Voicing out against the rulers; agitating for the preservation of Konkani as an official state language; choosing the historic Opinion Poll, and finally achieving statehood in the year 1987. The journey was not easy.
After Goa’s liberation from the Portuguese, Goa, Daman, and Diu were made a single Union Territory. However, soon, the fight to recognise Konkani as the official language intermingled with the demand for statehood. “Around 1985, the bill to recognise Konkani as Goa’s Raajbhaas was passed, but the then government dismissed it completely,” recalls Uday Bhembre, advocate, writer, and a key figure in Goa’s statehood struggle. “That’s when many artists, authors, and others who shared a common goal of seeing Konkani as a state language came together to protest during the Vidhan Sabha. And there wasn’t a single political person present there,” he says.
The Prime Minister's assurance
At the same time, another agitation demanding a similar status for Marathi had also begun. After discussions between the two sides, an agreement was reached, allowing the Official Language Bill to finally move forward. As the agitations continued, the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, was in Goa for other work. He was then asked a question about Goa demanding statehood. “Solve your language problem first, and then we will immediately consider the demand of statehood,” was his response, Bhembre narrates. “And he kept his promise. While the Konkani language Act was passed on February 4, 1987, on May 30, Goa received the status of statehood.”
Memories of a historic day
“I remember it clearly. However, I was small, so I did not realise how significant it was,” recalls Pratibha Desai. “But on that day, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had come to Goa to inaugurate the plaque and declare Goa a state. I was one of the people selected to welcome him with a ceremonial aarti,” she adds, fondly reminiscing about the memories of that historic day.
Why Goa wanted Statehood
Goa had already received the status of a Union Territory, so why was the demand for statehood? “Well, there were pros and cons of being a Union territory. The pro was that the Central Government could fund as much as they wanted for Goa’s development, but states did not share that liberty. However, there were disadvantages. The ministers did not enjoy the same power as a union territory, and any major decisions regarding Goa’s development had to be taken by the central government. That was a setback as the files were not moved forward,” Bhembre remarks. “So after we received statehood, those disadvantages ceased to exist.”
Changing times after Statehood
Vaman Bhate, owner of Varsha Bookstall, observed one prominent change immediately after Goa attained statehood. People of Daman and Diu who had to travel all the way to Panaji, the then capital, no longer had to do so, since Panaji ceased to be the common capital. “Things, of course, did not change overnight,” he states. “Since ours was an ordinary newspaper stall and bookshop back then, the time during Goa’s statehood demands saw people from various walks of life come to our shop, read the newspapers, have discussions on the state affairs for hours, and argue on Goa’s political situation,” he recalls.
Is Goa losing its identity?
Yet, elders remember a life that was far more peaceful. “It is not the same Goa we saw in your childhood. Goa's identity is changing rapidly and the feeling of ‘Goencarpon’ is fast vanishing,” reckons MK Shaikh, retired principal of a higher secondary school. But is it just the elders who share this sentiment? Nasya Pereira, an artist, musician, and founder of Vintage Goa Memories, shares her views. “Born and brought up in Goa, the most striking change I’ve noticed over the years is definitely the landscape around. Many places that were once defined by quieter surroundings and natural beauty have changed significantly over time,” she reflects.
Photo shot by Piers Ciappara in 1985 at the Mapusa market. Via Vintage Goa Memories by Nasya Pereira
The fight continues in a different form
Goa’s statehood was never just a change in political status. It was the outcome of years of protest, dialogue, and a collective effort to preserve identity while seeking progress. But decades later, many feel the real challenge has shifted.
Development, migration, and rapid urbanisation have transformed the landscape and rhythm of life. For some, what is fading is not just old Goa, but the spirit of Goencarpon itself. While statehood was achieved in 1987, the larger question today is whether Goa can still hold on to what it once fought so hard to protect.
