Massillon Almeida - Goa Liberations' Unsung Hero
Massillon Almeida (02 March 1913 - 08 April 1988) born in Assolna, Goa was among the prominent members who took part in the Goa independence movement much before India gained independence. He was influenced by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.
He was the General Secretary of the Goa Congress Committee, Bombay (1946). Dr A.G. Tendulkar was the then President who had sent a telegram to the President of the Indian National Congress, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stating that the Goa Congress Committee adhere to the principles of territorial integrity of India and requested Congress recognition in the forthcoming constitution of the right of the people of Goa, Daman and Diu for self-determination and their desire for reunion with the Mother Country.
“Quit India - Quit Goa, Damaun and Diu” was their slogan.
Massillon Almeida was staying and operating under exile from Bombay.
The Commandant of Police, NOVA GOA and The Commissioner of Police, Bombay were exchanging correspondence to have Massillon Almeida arrested.
Massillon Almeida did not fear arrest and had been extremely vocal with his pen. He wrote the following article the Bombay Chronicle, dated 12th October 1946 titled ‘Autocracy in Goa’ wherein he highlighted how the fascist Portuguese regime harassed a Goan native from Nachinola was detained for carrying a copy of ‘Goa Times’ and was detained for 24 hours by the customs authorities at Colem. Three days later this Goan was arrested again and put in Mapuça police lock-up.
And then again in another article in Bombay Chronicle, dated 21st June 1947 titled ‘Goa will Resist’. Massillon refers to the news that the Nizam was negotiating for the “purchase” of Goa. He fiercely states “…Goa is determined to get rid of Portuguese rule and the Goan people are getting ready for the day of reckoning when they will have to wrest power from the Portuguese and also to defend their liberty from any other Power. Resurgent Goa will not tolerate its liberty and integrity.”
According to his late sister Milburga Almeida, her brother Massillon had a very strong difference of political opinion with his father who was a lawyer and held some legal position in the Portuguese court in Goa. He went into exile in Bombay and would communicate with her through Goan secret agents. She would help facilitate the exchange of documents without getting into the details.
She had this one interesting incident to narrate. She received a message from Massillon that the Portuguese authorities were to raid their house and that she should destroy all the papers. In a hurry, she ended up burning up some important property documents as well. And sure enough in the wee hours, the Portuguese police raided her house and she was handcuffed and taken walking through the village and then to Quepem. She was later released as they could not find any evidence.
Milburga recounted that Massillon set foot onto liberated Goa's soil and was welcomed and honoured by the Goans.
Massillon had by now made Bombay (now Mumbai) his home. He eventually gave up his membership of the Indian National Congress and settled down to working and raising a family.
He went on to serve as an Editor in Russi Karanjia’s ‘Blitz’ which was a popular investigative weekly newspaper.
His wife Jennie Almeida, once told this author that Massillon refused to register himself as a freedom fighter as he did not want to take the perks and concessions given by the government to freedom fighters. He wanted his contribution to be a selfless one.
He was the General Secretary of the Goa Congress Committee, Bombay (1946). Dr A.G. Tendulkar was the then President who had sent a telegram to the President of the Indian National Congress, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stating that the Goa Congress Committee adhere to the principles of territorial integrity of India and requested Congress recognition in the forthcoming constitution of the right of the people of Goa, Daman and Diu for self-determination and their desire for reunion with the Mother Country.“Quit India - Quit Goa, Damaun and Diu” was their slogan.
Massillon Almeida was staying and operating under exile from Bombay.
The Commandant of Police, NOVA GOA and The Commissioner of Police, Bombay were exchanging correspondence to have Massillon Almeida arrested.
Massillon Almeida did not fear arrest and had been extremely vocal with his pen. He wrote the following article the Bombay Chronicle, dated 12th October 1946 titled ‘Autocracy in Goa’ wherein he highlighted how the fascist Portuguese regime harassed a Goan native from Nachinola was detained for carrying a copy of ‘Goa Times’ and was detained for 24 hours by the customs authorities at Colem. Three days later this Goan was arrested again and put in Mapuça police lock-up.
And then again in another article in Bombay Chronicle, dated 21st June 1947 titled ‘Goa will Resist’. Massillon refers to the news that the Nizam was negotiating for the “purchase” of Goa. He fiercely states “…Goa is determined to get rid of Portuguese rule and the Goan people are getting ready for the day of reckoning when they will have to wrest power from the Portuguese and also to defend their liberty from any other Power. Resurgent Goa will not tolerate its liberty and integrity.”
According to his late sister Milburga Almeida, her brother Massillon had a very strong difference of political opinion with his father who was a lawyer and held some legal position in the Portuguese court in Goa. He went into exile in Bombay and would communicate with her through Goan secret agents. She would help facilitate the exchange of documents without getting into the details.
She had this one interesting incident to narrate. She received a message from Massillon that the Portuguese authorities were to raid their house and that she should destroy all the papers. In a hurry, she ended up burning up some important property documents as well. And sure enough in the wee hours, the Portuguese police raided her house and she was handcuffed and taken walking through the village and then to Quepem. She was later released as they could not find any evidence.
Milburga recounted that Massillon set foot onto liberated Goa's soil and was welcomed and honoured by the Goans.
Massillon had by now made Bombay (now Mumbai) his home. He eventually gave up his membership of the Indian National Congress and settled down to working and raising a family.
He went on to serve as an Editor in Russi Karanjia’s ‘Blitz’ which was a popular investigative weekly newspaper.
His wife Jennie Almeida, once told this author that Massillon refused to register himself as a freedom fighter as he did not want to take the perks and concessions given by the government to freedom fighters. He wanted his contribution to be a selfless one.
References:
Authors Note:
Massillon Almeida is my maternal uncle, Milburga (his sister) being my mother, I've always wanted to write about this unsung hero who refused the temptation to get a freedom fighters status and its perks. He never spoke of his 'exploits' so to say with any family members including his children - such was his humility and his selfless service to a cause.
There was one reference to Massillon Almeida’s contribution in a souvenir brought out by ‘Cuncolim Freedom Fighters Association’ some years ago. I have misplaced that copy.
This article is compiled from an archive found on the internet. Hence, Massillon’s contribution is limited here to the years of 1946-47.
I will be happy to get more information on his work till until the liberation of Goa. You may contact me by email: valerian.mendonca@gmail.com
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