Goa Statehood Day Celebrated at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar as Manoj Sinha Highlights Ancient Regional Bonds

SRINAGAR, May 30 — Lok Bhavan Jammu Kashmir hosted a special programme today to celebrate the statehood day of Goa, drawing an audience of senior officials, artists, and invited Goan guests currently residing in Jammu Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid homage to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives between 1946 and 1961 to liberate Goa from colonial rule, noting that hundreds endured brutal hardships and imprisonment to keep the movement alive.

He specifically saluted Bala Raya Mapari of the Azad Gomantak Dal, the first martyr of the liberation struggle, alongside prominent figures such as Luís de Menezes Bragança, Mohan Ranade, Tristao Braganza da Cunha, Purushottam Kakodkar, Prabhakar Vaidya, Nana Kajrekar, and Sudhir Phadke for sustaining the spirit of satyagraha across Goa, Daman, Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The lieutenant governor emphasized that Goa’s ancient arts and vibrant heritage have significantly enriched the national vision of unity, quoting a Konkani proverb to highlight that unity remains the bedrock of progress for the nation. Reflecting on the historical relationship between the two regions, he observed that a centuries-old connection unites the golden shores of Goa with the majestic mountains of Jammu Kashmir.

He concluded by stating that the celebration serves as an opportunity to weave together the timeless philosophies, cultures, and values nurtured along the banks of the Tawi and Terekhol rivers.