Goa Liberation Day

Background

Goa was annexed by the Indian Armed Forces on 19 December 1961 after 451 years of Portuguese rule. 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 let Goa join India at the same time as the majority of the subcontinent granted by the British in 1947, 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. 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. India invaded and annexed Goa in late December 1961.