Yes that was indeed historical. Eternally grateful for those responsible. Bernice
Sent from my iPhone > On 16-Jan-2018, at 10:30 AM, Sandeep Heble <sandeephe...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Today marks the 51st Anniversary of the Opinion Polls, a referendum which > took place on January 16, 1967. Though the opinion poll happened before I > was born, I got first-hand accounts from my mother and aunts / uncles, the > children of Goa’s renowned Poet, Late Bakibab Borkar. I also have read a > few accounts and essays written by others like my good friend, historian > Prajal Sakhardande, which have been very informative and make interesting > reads. > > My grandfather Poet Borkar wrote essays and Poems on retaining Goa's > identity in the Marathi daily Rashtramat, some of which have later been > published in the Book “Saasaay”. He used to work in the All India Radio > then and though he could not openly participate, he wrote under the pen > name “Komlo”, urging people to vote for the Union Territory. He also served > in advisory capacity to the youngsters working in the referendum. > > Several of Goa’s well known Poets, singers, writers, tiatrists and other > literary and cultural practitioners likewise actively contributed with > their literary skills to prevent the merger. A song from this movement, > Channeache Rati , sung by Ulhas Buyao with lyrics penned by Uday Bhembre, > is one of my favourite Konkani tracks, which I love to listen to quite > often. > > By no means was the opinion poll a one sided battle. It must have taken a > lot of effort to convince the majority that maintaining a separate identity > was the best way forward. Opinions were vastly divided. The Maharashtrawadi > Gomantak Party which wielded a huge influence among the Hindu community > pitched heavily in favour of the merger, while the United Goans Party under > the leadership of Dr Jack Sequeira fought tooth and nail against it. This > movement also had other notable personalities like Purshottam Kakodkar, > Chandrakant Keni, Ulhas Buyao, Uday Bhembre, Dr Manoharrai Sardesai and > many others in the forefront, who campaigned extensively to retain Goa’s > identity. > > Results would indicate that it was the Catholic community especially those > from the Salcete belt which tilted the scales heavily against the merger. > Though Hindus predominantly were politically with the MGP, a significant > percentage threw their weight behind the anti-merger forces and voted for > the two leaves, the anti merger symbol. This, together, in the end made the > difference, the merger forces losing with a substantial 34000+ votes. > > Goa thus managed to retain its separate identity. The Opinion Poll was a > unique historical referendum and we owe a sense of gratitude to all those > who fought to preserve its separate status. > > A happy Opinion Poll Anniversary Day to all. > > - Warm regards > Sandeep Heble > > 9326129171