Goa liberation
Also called: Operation Vijay (1961) · Topic: Regional Aspirations: J&K, Punjab, the North-East and Accommodation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 7 "Regional Aspirations"
Meaning
Goa liberation was the end of Portuguese rule over Goa, Daman and Diu by Indian army action in December 1961. Portugal had ruled these areas since the 16th century, with repression and forced conversions. It refused to leave even after India became independent. It matters as the case where force was used against a colonial power that would not go peacefully.
Example
A Goan freedom movement, helped by socialist satyagrahis (peaceful protesters) from Maharashtra, kept up the pressure for years. In December 1961 the army freed the territories in barely two days, and they became a Union territory. Goa later became a state in 1987 (56th Amendment, Art. 371I).
Don't confuse with
- Goa opinion poll (1967): a later vote in which Goans chose to stay separate from Maharashtra. Liberation (1961) was about freedom from Portugal. The poll was about Goa's place inside India.