Exactly 125 years ago, on September 21, 1890, Goa’s historic battle for civic liberties was fought, and finally won; but not without bloodshed. Perhaps, 21st September of the year 1890 dawned, like any other day in the socio-political life of Goa, then under the colonial regime of the Portuguese rulers. Nobody could have possibly thought that, in the early morning hours of that fateful day, precious lives were destined to be sacrificed on the altar of Civic Freedom, as an aftermath of a bloody battle to exercise one’s franchise. The inimitable struggle for civil liberties initiated in Goa in the early years of the second half of the nineteenth century, under the dynamic leadership of Dr Jose Inacio de Loyola – a great patriot and political stalwart from the village of Orlim – finally culminated in martyrdom, emblazing thereby the annals of Goan socio-political history.
It was a day of elections. Now dilapidated, the former Municipal Building of Salcete in the heart of Margao (Old Market) housed the polling booth. Within the precincts of the polling station, Portuguese gendarmerie was stationed to sabotage the civil liberties of the masses. Nevertheless, located in and around the patio of the Holy Spirit Church, Margao, an elective assembly of nearly 4000 villagers looked forward to exercise franchise – a precious civic right.
The elections scheduled on 21st September, 1890 were subject to Portuguese bureaucratic manipulation and mockery. The Governmental machinery, under the despotic direction of General Vasco Guedes was all set to decide a favorable disposition of the candidates sympathetic to the Portuguese Government. The village masses, on the other hand, endorsed the candidatures favored by the popular political party, ‘Partido Indiano’.
‘Partido Indiano’, under the dynamic leadership of its founder, Dr Jose Inacio de Loyola and his Party Co-Leaders (Caudilos), all from Salcete, mobilized the struggle to effect socio-political reforms in Goa since its inception in 1865 – just seven years after the British Crown assumed sovereignty over India from the East India Company in 1858. To achieve its goals, ‘Partido Indiano’ wielded “A India Portuguesa” – a newspaper in Portuguese, founded in 1861. Dr Loyola became its Editor on 19th December, 1864.
On the day of elections on 21st September 1890, Portuguese troops impeded the voters, suspected to be supporters of ‘Partido Indiano’, allowing only the Government sympathizers to vote.
Undemocratic interference by the Portuguese Government in the elections of September 21st triggered the battle for civic rights. In carrying out instructions of General Guedes, Administrator of Salcete, Lt Colonel Luis de Souza Faro, stationed himself at the polling station with armed police to prevent supporters of the popular party from exercising their franchise. A scuffle followed as enraged voters pelted stones at the Municipal Building. No sooner than it was announced that a protest letter, to be sent to Portugal, was drafted by Dr. Loyola inside a nearby house of one Salvador Alvares, the armed troops charged into the crowds with their bayonets. Firing followed during which 13 people died and 10 more succumbed to their injuries later on. Several hundreds were severely injured.
Accusing ‘Partido Indiano’ of provoking a tumult, the despotic Governor General ordered to arrest Dr. Loyola and his Caudillos. The very next day, a platoon of about 500 soldiers cordoned the house of Dr. Loyola in Orlim to ensure his arrest. However, at the tolling of the Church bells, patriotic villagers from Orlim and around came in large numbers and surrounded the armed troops. In the meantime, Dr. Loyola along with his band of Caudillos escaped through the back door. From Orlim they went to Betul, where boarding a country craft they went to Karwar. They then proceeded to Belgaum and finally to Bombay into exile.
Whilst in Bombay, the despotic Goa Governor charged Loyola and his band of stalwarts with ‘frustrated homicide and sedition’. And at his request, the then British Governor of Bombay Lord Harris ordered inquiry in the Chief Presidency Magistrate’s Court in Bombay and the exiled leaders were prosecuted with extradition. However, on September 18, 1891 the High Court of Bombay annulled the lengthy proceedings against the exiled leaders for want of evidence.
On being acquitted, and following appointment of a new Governor General in Goa, the exiled leaders returned to Goa on 27th September, 1891. They were given a superb welcome and were led in a triumphant procession from Margao Railway Station to the old Salcete Municipal building. Gathered in the courtyard of the Holy Spirit Church – the site of martyrdom – this time the jubilant crowd lauded the heroic struggle of the great leaders in a festive manner.
The victorious battle for Civil Liberties of 21st September 1890 is an exemplary triumph of the human spirit – the indomitable human spirit that cannot be quenched except by its Creator. As such, the people of Salcete, in whose veins flows the blood of heroes who at Margao Church Square offered their lives to be sacrificed on the altar of civic freedom, maintain intact their qualities of bravery, and which sterling qualities are even today gallantly exercised when despotic political leaders come on the scene in Goa’s socio-political life.
(The author is a freelance Christian writer)
