Team Herald
PANJIM: In the heart of Goa’s capital, Panjim, lies the busy 18th June Road. The street is always busy with shoppers –locals and tourists, hurrying to park their vehicles, rush to the range of stores that make up the shopping quarter and then head back home satisfied. But why is the road named as 18th June road? We asked a number of people to see if they know the significance of the name…..
Most of the people we questioned seemed to know the significance of the name. One elderly gentleman said “Today is Kranti Din. Therefore the name 18th June Road was given to this street.”
Eli Furtado, an engineer from Panjim, said, “Today is Goa Revolution Day and we celebrate it every year. This day is dedicated to the memory of freedom fighters, who fought to liberate Goa.”
Not only the elderly, but even one youngster knew the significance of the day. The youngster, in his early 20s, who was riding a bike, said, “Today is 18th June – Revolution day. Ram Manohar Lohia began the revolt against the Portuguese on this day, so that we could get freedom. The street is named after 18th June for us youngsters to remember.”
A milk vendor, whose milk store is located at the beginning of the 18th June road at Caculo circle, had an interesting answer. Though he got the Kranti Din part right, however, to our utter surprise he said “freedom fighters had walked this road in 1946.” When asked for details, he was unable to give details saying “this happened in 1946 and we came to Goa in 1947.”
Another tailor, who had a shop at 18th June road too had very innovative story. He said that “the revolt (against Portuguese Rule) was launched on this day. There was a mashall (torch) rally on this road. Therefore the name. The rally was taken out to chase the Portuguese from Goa and Goa got its independence.”
Ram Manohar Lohia emerged as an important leader of the freedom movement of Goa. It was Goan nationalist Julião Menezes, who invited Dr Ram Manohar Lohia to address a gathering at Margao, on June 18, 1946. It was a civil disobedience movement which was aimed against Salazar’s dictatorial regime. These two individuals were the driving forces behind a struggle to reclaim civil liberties in Goa. Dr Lohia and Dr Menezes reached Margao. When Dr Lohia was about to address the meeting both he and Menezes were arrested.
The movement against civil liberties lit the flame of independence from Portuguese rule at Margao and eventually resulted in a movement which led to Goa’s Liberation on December 19, 1961.