The suggestion that had India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who was also the Deputy Prime Minister, lived longer, Goa would have been liberated from colonial rule long before 1961 has been made in the past too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it at the function to celebrate 60 years of Liberation, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had said it in February 2013 and a week ago, on Revolution Day, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar said it in Goa.
While the statement has been made at different points of time, there has been little added to substantiate these assertions. Over 70 years after his death, it may be difficult to understand what was in Sardar Patel’s mind at that time, but a quick glance through some of Patel’s biographies and books on him, of which there are plenty, throw up some sketchy mentions of Goa, Daman and Diu. There are, however, two episodes, also briefly mentioned in one of the books, that in the light of the latest statement on Sardar Patel and Goa’s liberation seem relevant to be recalled.
It was Sardar Patel who had been tasked with the unification of all the princely states and he achieved it, but since Goa was under foreign rule, the territory did not come directly under his ministry. Yet, there is evidence to support the statements that Patel may have pushed for Goa’s liberation, earlier than it was eventually achieved, had he lived longer.
In his book, ‘Patel A Life’, Rajmohan Gandhi notes that though Patel seemed indifferent to foreign affairs, he concealed a prescience in them. He states, ‘In 1950 the problem of Goa was being discussed in the Foreign Affairs Committee… the discussion went on for two hours. Sardar Patel seemed to take no interest. He kept his eyes closed for most to the time and seemed half asleep. Suddenly he woke up and said, “Shall we go in? It is two hours work.” Nehru resisted this suggestion vehemently… Sardar Patel did not press his point but retired sphinx-like into silence.’
While Rajmohan Gandhi does not state what Nehru did say at that point of time, in another biography, ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel India’s Iron Man’ by Balraj Krishna the following quote has been attributed to Nehru in that discussion: ‘If we, who professed to believe in non-violence, were to use violence to absorb Goa, we would be setting a bad example. Moreover, there would be international complications.’
Rajmohan Gandhi, however, goes on to say in his book that, ‘The observer of this scene, KPS Menon, also records that when, twelve years later, India under Nehru did enter Goa, “it turned out to be little more than two hours work”.’
Indeed, the liberation of Goa was achieved with minimal fatalities and in quick time, the Portuguese surrendering, rather than defending. India’s armed forces were able to liberate the territory in a record time, being hailed by the Goan population as they drove from the borders towards the capital Panjim.
Balraj Krishna in his book has another episode that indicates that Patel did show interest in liberating Goa. Here is an extract from that book: ‘Patel gave vent to his inner feelings in May 1950 when on medical advice he undertook a sea cruise by INS Delhi from Bombay to Cochin. While cruising along the Goa coast, Patel asked the Captain of the ship how many miles they were from Goa. On being told the distance, he asked the Captain to take the ship nearer to Goa to let him have a look at it. When reminded of the rule governing territorial waters, Patel smiled his ‘turtle-like smile’ and said, “It does not matter. Let’s go and have a look.” According to Taya Zinkin, when the ship was nearer Goa, Patel asked the Captain, “How many men you have got on board?” “800,” answered the Captain. “Enough to take Goa?” Patel enquired. “I think so,” replied the Captain. “Well, let us go and take it while we are here,” said Patel. A puzzled Captain could not believe what he had heard and asked Patel to repeat what he had said. Patel repeated it. This confused the Captain further. In a hesitant tone and with some trepidation, he said, “You will have to give me a written order, sir – just for the record.” Patel grinned, and said, “Perhaps on second thoughts we better go back. You know that fellow Jawaharlal. He will object”.’
While this makes interesting reading today, a good 73 years after it occurred, had Sardar Patel not had second thoughts, would he have gone ahead in an attempt to liberate Goa? Or had not the captain of the ship sought written orders, but acted immediately, would history have been different?
While both these are episodes that occurred in 1950, the year Patel died, Balraj Krishna notes that Patel always considered Goa to be an ‘inalienable part of India’. He notes that in a letter of May 14, 1946, to the president of the Goa Congress, Patel had written, ‘Your desire for reunion with Mother country is understandable, as it is natural. The Congress will not forget you when proper time for action comes. Indian independence means independence of the whole of India, in which there can be no spot or place for foreign domination however small it may be.’
While Patel held the portfolio of Home Affairs, that of External Affairs was with Nehru and Goa, was Nehru’s problem so to say, not Patel’s. Against this background, it is probable and possible that Sardar Patel may have pushed Nehru to act on Goa earlier than 1961, but what actually occurred is history and today we can only imagine what may have occurred had the iron man of India lived longer.
What can be gathered from these incidents and episodes, provides us today with an inkling of what was in Patel’s mind on the Goa question. It is clear that he was not in favour of prolonging colonial rule in Goa. How he would have acted, and would he have been allowed to have his way whatever it may be, is conjecture.
