We warmly welcome you on this auspicious day to our new site. Today is "54th Liberation Day" . Today is the day, 54 years back our freedom fighters have  succeeded to Free our Dadra & Nagar Haveli from The Portuguese.

We have not achieved the freedom overnight. On night of 22nd of July 1954 party of nearly fifteen volunteers under the leadership of Francis Mascarenhas and Vaman Desai attacked the Dadra Police Station and during this SubInspector was killed and other two policemen were over powered by others. The U.F.G. (United Front of Goans - Surprised !!! how the Goans came into the role ? Read more details in our History section) leader immediately contacted the local elite and declared "Free territory of Dadra". The UFG hoisted the Indian Tricolour flag  and Indian National Anthem was sung.

On the night of 28th July, 1954, nearly 5 volunteers of R.S.S. under the leadership of Raja Wakankar and aout 10 Azad Gomantak volunteers under the leadership of Prabhakar Sinari proceeded to Naroli from Karambele. Crossed the rivulet Darotha in flood. Naroli Patelad was totally detached from Silvassa due to flood. At Naroli Gomanbhai Solanki and other local volunteers come out in  strength to help. There were only six constables at Police Station who were ordered to surrender or face death. Remembering the episode at Dadra nearly a week ago, they surrendered without any resistance. In this way Naroli was captured without any loss of life on either side.

On 1st August 1954, at about 10 pm, the nationalists divided themselves into three batches of which two were led by RSS persons and a third batch led by Prabhakar Sinari of Azad Gomantak Dal. All the three batches were to move from different directions and to close in on Silvassa. On reaching the outskirts of Silvassa, attle noise was made to create panic among the Portuguese Force. All the cvilians of Silvassa were warned to remain indoor by closing windows and doors. Also created field fortification (wall constructed with sand bags) and fired warning shots in air. As the volunteers moved close to chowky, they found it surrounded by sand bags all around. Messers Vasant badve, Vishnu Bhope and  Shantaram Vaidya managed to reach near the wall of sand bags from behind the police chowky. Three plocemen guarding the chowky was over powered and in this struggle Vishnu Bhole chopped off hand of a constable with an axe. By this time, volunteers from other side also arrived and covered the remaining police force. They ordered the Portuguese militia guarding the other posts to surrender. The troops came out and surrendered without offering any further resistance.

Nearly fifty soldiers and five civilian officers who were huarding different points in the town surrendered. As it was not clear how many more armed men hiding inside, it was decided to spend night on the outskirt of the town and to take possession of the town in the morning.

In the morning of 2nd August 1954, the Nationalists moved into the town of Silvassa. But discovered that that apparently no more Police were left in Silvassa. Remaining force of nearly 150 Police had moved towards Khanvel along with Captain Fidalgo. Within 2 hours , the above expedition was over. Except small injuries sustained by Mr. Shamro Lad and Mr Vidyadhar D Tilak.

All the citizens and nationalist volunteers were asked to collect in front of the main administration building to watch the Flag Hosting Ceremony. So, on 2nd August 1954 Indian National Flag was hoisted by Senior Luis De Gama, eldest nationalist of the area. He also read out following proclamation.

"By the present proclamation the territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli is declared as liberated from the Portuguese colonial rule, and the establishment of the democracy of the people. It appeals to all the people - The free citizens of Nagar Haveli to serve the territories and its new Administration with loyality."

"Every inhabitant has equal rights. The old servents of the ex-Portuguese Government who agree to take holy oath of allegience and loyality to new Administration and the Indian National Flag, will be continued in the service with their interest safeguarded. Finally, we request the Government of India to integrate these liberated ares with the rest of the Indian Republic."

For more details of the Freedom Fight.... visit our history page under DNH Info....