June 18 remains an important day in Goa’s freedom struggle as on that day in 1946, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia defied the Portuguese laws and launched a civil disobedience movement in Goa, an act that was retaliated to by the Portuguese but led to lighting the spark to the flame of freedom that culminated in the liberation. There is a street in Panjim named 18th June Road, there is a maidan in Margao named after Lohia, but there is little to honour or remember another important personality who played a crucial role in this incident that occurred 73 years ago. 

The role of Dr Juliao Menezes to the events leading to the June 18, 1946 and later can never be over stressed. Accounts of the connection between Menezes and Lohia state that they met at Berlin University where both were studying. They remained in contact and Lohia was even provided shelter by Menezes after the former’s participation in the do or die movement. In 1946, after Lohia’s release from prison, he sought out Menezes in Mumbai and got a medical examination conducted. Menezes then invited Lohia to Goa to recuperated in the Assolna home of the former. Lohia came to Goa on June 10, 1946 stayed with Menezes, discussed the Goa situation and then came up with a plan to defy the Portuguese government’s ban on public meetings.

They addressed a meeting in Panjim on June 15, 1946 and then scheduled another one on June 18 in Margao. The Portuguese did not stop the first meeting, but things changed drastically at the second meeting. There was a large crowd chanting slogans awaiting the arrival of the duo. The crowd was so huge that the colonial governmnent was unable to contain it. Lohia and Menezes were arrested, but instead of meekly surrending, the next day hundreds of people demonstrated in Margao demanding the release of the two leaders. Though both were released, the following day, this one incident gave an entire new direction to the liberation movement, that then escalated. 

This was not the only incident in which Lohia and Menezes collaborated. There are others, and Menezes was involved in a number of other incidents relating to the freedom struggle. In the long list of freedom fighters for Goa’s Liberation, there are many who have never been given their due. Menezes is one of them, who, despite his deeds being known, has not got the recognition he deserves. Like him there are others, whose activities have been forgotten or just neglected to be mentioned.

The Chief Minister has announced that the government will install portraits of five freedom fighters in the secretariat as a mark of respect for their contributions to the Liberation of Goa. Menezes is not one of them. 

We are soon coming to the 75th anniversary of this day, which will be two years from now. It would be fitting if Menezes was given the honour he deserves for the role he played on June 18, 1946, that ultimately led to the liberation of Goa. Yes, the government did honour him – after his death – but Menezes’ contribution to the freedom struggle deserves to be remembered by some monument dedicated to his name. The day is etched in memory by the road named after it, and from Lohia Maidan in Margao various movements have been started. Why not something for the unsung hero Juliao Menezes? June 18 can hardly be observed as Revolution Day if one of its main heroes remains just a distant memory.