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Year 1955. Goa was still struggling for its freedom, cut off completely from the rest of the world. Basic civil rights were curbed by the oppressive Portuguese ruler, Antonio de Oliviera Salazar. Satyagraha movements were crushed, newspapers were banned. No information against the favours of the Portuguese was allowed to come out. The situation all over the Portuguese colonies was very tense as protests were happening everywhere. Dadra and Nagar Haveli were just freed from the grip of the Portuguese. Government Media was being misused by the colonists to feed people with false propaganda and wrong ideas about freedom. In the middle of this chaos, on the fine morning of 25th November, 7 am sharp, a voice was heard on the radio. This was the voice of Libia Lobo Sardesai.
Peaceful marches were curbed by shooting people at gunpoint, people were losing out on hope and public morale began to deteriorate. This was the time when a secret underground radio station was set up on the outskirts of Goa, in Amboli, from where the public began to get the correct information of their state’s freedom struggle.
“Voice of Freedom” for English broadcast, “Voz de Liberdade” for the Portuguese broadcast and “Goenche Sadvonecho Awaz” for the Konkani broadcast was run by Libia Lobo during Goa’s Freedom Movement. The purpose of this radio service was to provide information and motivate people to fight for their freedom. It helped build up the lost morale by talking about the kind of support Goa was receiving from India and all over the world.
The early days
It all started in 1955, in the Crawford market where she was introduced to the freedom struggle. She was adventurous and spirited by nature, and really wanted to do something for the people of Goa. Her professor’s statement that India cannot be called free till Goa is liberated, further pushed her and inspired her to actually work for the people. Though Libia Lobo was living in Bombay, her heart and mind was in Goa. She was a part of that crowd that had gathered at the CJ Hall in Mumbai, where they wanted to register themselves for the Satyagraha. But unfortunately, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru banned it because people were shot at point blank.
But this did not stop her. And finally, during Dadra and Nagar Haveli Freedom liberation, she got her chance. Two radio transmitters captured during this time shaped the idea of underground radio service for Goa. So Libia Lobo and Vaman Sardesai, with their experience in broadcasting, started the Voice of Freedom.
The struggle
Set in a truck, they lived incognito, away from everyone, no one knew where they were. The Portuguese, too, soon began to hunt for them, forcing them to migrate to Castle Rock, isolated. From here, they continued their broadcast for the next six years, amongst venomous snakes, blood-sucking leeches, insects; twice a day, working 18 hours a day. They not only prepared the broadcast, but also listened to various bulletins and news from India and rest of the world, studying reports and collating received information. The radio frequency was often jammed by the Portuguese, but the problem was solved by a slight change in the frequency.
Her Last Broadcast
It was a surprise for her when she received a wireless asking them to move out from their hideout as the border was no longer safe. They were picked up the Indian Armed Forces and dropped in Belgaum, where a suburban radio transmitter was set up.
On 17th December, they sent a direct message from the Indian Defence Minister to the Portuguese Governor General asking him to surrender and reply back on a certain frequency, at a certain time. As no reply was received, Operation Vijay commenced.
When Goa became free, Libia was so overwhelmed and excited that her last but impulsive request was to soar high in the sky and tell the people that Goa was finally free. And that’s how she made her last broadcast, when she was set on the Air Force Liberator with Vaman Sardesai and they announced in Konkani And Portuguese that Goa was finally free and dropped leaflets.
Now she lives happily in Panjim, the capital of Goa, living with her beautiful memories, her struggles, her efforts and the sweet fruit of her labour. The city reminds her of her glorious past, her contributions to that land and the feeling of satisfaction and pride as she sees it free and growing by the rising day.
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