OPINION POLL WAS THE BIGGEST LIBERATION OF GOA

What happened that January of 1967, five years after Goa's liberation, is described by many as the second most important date in our history and yet, one that goes forgotten or ignored year after year. Many born after 1970 seem unaware of its significance, for a few, however, it's like it happened yesterday.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) came to power after the first state elections in 1963 and Dayanand Bandodkar was chief minister. "MGP's primary goal was to merge Goa with Maharashtra based on their claim that Marathi was the official state language," recalls noted Margao-based writer and socio-political analyst Uday Bhembre, a prominent participant in the events of the time. "Although their undercurrent aim was religion they used the merger issue to gain votes from the Hindu population, whom they sided with. After coming into power, they pushed the Centre for the merger," Bhembre remembers.

Goa's opposition leader Jack Sequeira decided to oppose the merger proposal tooth and nail. While the United Goans Party (UGP) resisted the merger, the Congress party was a divided house, he adds.

Bhembre was among those who opposed the merger and did their bit to create awareness. In September 1963 some affluent Goans launched Rashtramath (nation's opinion), a Marathi newspaper—most literary forms operated in Marathi as Konkani was subdued under the Portuguese rule—in Margao. The daily's main aim was to develop Konkani and oppose the merger. Bhembre, then an assistant editor of the publication, helped make a difference among the Hindu population who mostly spoke Marathi.

Another name at the centre of the issue at the time is A P Bhatikar, an IAS officer and former MPT chairman, who recalls that in his late 20s the merger and the opinion poll "sliced up the state". "Even before the UGP was formed, I would travel to Goa from Bombay and join other youngsters at various meetings and conferences to oppose the merger," he says.

While the MGP pushed hard for the merger, various groups, leaders and laymen -- Purshottam Kakodkar, Jack Sequeira, Ravindra Kelekar, Ulhas Buyao, VM Salgaocar, Dr Manoharai Sardesai, Teotonio Pereira, Vasudev Sarmalkar, Chandrakant Keni, Shabu Dessai, Victoria Fernandes, Enio Pimenta, Anant Naik, Srirang Narvekar, Berta Menezes, Al Jerry Braganza, and several others pitched in many of them participated in yatras to convince the people why Goa shouldn't merge with Maharahstra and vote for Two Leaves (symbol).

The Centre had its say—Goa could either remain a Union territory or merge with Maharashtra. January 16 was set as the date when Goans would come out and exercise their vote.

"I was selected for institutional training as an IAS officer and was sent to Mussorie in 1967. Although I was so far away, I kept abreast of every development in Goa through friends and waited with bated breath for every news even though I was not able to vote," says Bhatikar who returned to Goa only in 1991 as MPT chairman.

"The emotion and sensitivity of the people was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to know what would happen. In one instance some farmers met in a field at 11pm to discuss the situation," says Bhembre. In what seemed like a life-or-death situation for Goa and the Goan identity, it came as no surprise that 87% of the population voted on the day.

While MGP leaders managed to hold on to constituencies like Pernem, Mandrem, Tivim, Bicholim, Pale, Ponda Madkai and Shiroda with support for Flower (symbol), the Two Leaves campaign won the day for Goa - watershed event in the history of the state - with leads coming from Goa's capital - Panaji, Aldona in Bardez, St Cruz in Tiswadi, and the overwhelming support from people of Salcete and Mormugao turned the tables on the pro-merger lobby.

"We won by over 34,000 votes," says Bhembre, excitement alive in his voice as he recalls the results announced on January 19, 1967. Asked why such an important date goes mostly forgotten in Goa, Bhatikar says cryptically: "There's lots that the government does that it should not and a lot that it does not do that it should."

"Citizens should condemn the action or rather inaction on the part of these people in office who scream the loudest about Goan identity," he adds.

Bhembre, who will address a programme organized on Sunday at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to commemorate the day says, "Next to December 19, 1961, this is the most important date in Goa's history. If we had lost that day, liberation would mean a lot less." (TNN)