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Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day
Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day
	The War Memorial at Indian Naval Ship Gomantak was constructed in memory of seven young sailors and other personnel who died on 19 December 1961 in the "Operation Vijay (1961)" undertaken by the Indian Navy for annexation of Anjediva Island and Territories of Goa, Daman and Diu from the Portuguese rule in India.
Observed by	Goans, Indians
Significance	Liberation of Goa from Portugal
Date	19 December 1961
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Goa liberation movement

Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day^[2] is observed on December 19 every year in Goa, India.^[3]^[4] The Goa Liberation Day is celebrated in commemoration of the Indian armed forces annexing Portuguese-ruled Goa in 1961,^[5] after which India was free of any European rule.^[6]^[7]

Background

Goa was annexed by the Indian Army on 19 December 1961 after 451 years of Portuguese rule.^[8] The movement for independence in the 19th century in India had a smaller impact in Goa as well, with a few residents of participating in Satyagraha up to the 1960s. Portugal did not grant Goa independence or let Goa join India at the same time as the majority of the subcontinent granted by the British in 1947^[a], stating that Goa was culturally and religiously distinct from the rest of India and that Goa was a part of Portugal proper rather than a colony.^[9] India didn't take any military action then, as it was more concerned with integrating the Princely States. The Indian government asked Portugal to open negotiations in 1950, but after Portugal refused to respond to subsequent aide-mémoires in regards to Goa India withdrew its diplomatic mission to Portugal on 11 June 1953.^[10] India invaded and annexed Goa in late December 1961.

Observance

Various programmes organised across Goa to mark the Goa Liberation Day.^[11] In 2021, the observance consisted of a women's parliament and a youth parliament and Narendra Modi inaugurated new projects like the Super Specialty Block at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum in North Goa, Aviation Skill Development Center at Mopa Airport, the Gas-insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao, and the New South Goa District Hospital.^[12]