Dadra & Nagar-Aveli
Reproduced from the Frontline Magazine, July 11-24, 1987 issue by Lucio Mascarenhas.
Orthopapism II/Michaelinum | Index of Articles
The article "Goa: Another Landmark" (May 30-June 12) needs correction. Dadra was "wrenched out" of the "basket" on July 21, 1954 by the United Front of Goans and two local policemen, Aniceto do Rosario and Antonio Fernandes, died in battle.
If the nomenclature Portuguese refers to ethnic Europeans and not the local Portuguese citizens, then there were only two in Nagar Haveli, the Administrator, Captain Fidalgo, and the police chief, Lt. Falcao, and not 155. Before the Azad Gomantak Dal marched in on August 1, 1954, a Goan officer in the Indian police advised them to surrender at a point on the border with Nasik district in order to avoid bloodshed. And so they led a tactical police
retreat to Canoel (Khanvel). The local police senior, Manuel Pereira, wanted to put up a fight at Canoel but when he found that Fidalgo and Falcao had already retreated across the border, he surrendered along with his men. They were kept prisoner in Canoel till November 1954 when they were allowed to go to Daman.
The World Court verdict in the famous "Rights of Passage Case" was ambiguous. It affirmed Portuguese sovereignty in Dadra & Nagar-Haveli till July 1954 but kept mum on the political status thereafter. While giving
Portugal the right of passage for civilian officials, it upheld India's right to refuse transit to armed personnel from Daman. When the judgment was given in April 1960, both sides rejoiced!
A marble slab in Daman on the road to the airport says the Portuguese Governor of Damao, Major Antonio Jose da Costa Pinto, surrendered on December 20, 1961, after 36 hours of
grueling fighting. Another one inside the Fort states that Daman was captured after a heroic fight.
XYZ, Bombay.
Reproduced from the Frontline Magazine, July 11-24, 1987 issue by Lucio Mascarenhas.
Orthopapism II/Michaelinum | Index of Articles