Team Goemkarponn
Panjim: often celebrated for its high literacy, superior quality of life, and vibrant civil society — has long presented a paradox when it comes to politics. Despite being plagued by frequent party defections, unbalanced development, and recurring environmental agitations, the state continues to rank among the top performers in terms of per capita income, birth rate, and happiness index among small states in India. A new book attempts to unpack this contradiction with extensive historical and political analysis.
On Monday, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro will release the much-anticipated book titled “Post-Colonial Politics in Goa – Cabinet Government: From Liberation to Statehood” authored by Dr. A. Freddy Fernandes. The event will take place at Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim at 4:30 pm.
Joining the occasion as Guests of Honour will be Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Satadru Ojha, Executive Editor of O Heraldo. Renowned journalist and former O Heraldo Editor Alexandre Moniz Barbosa will deliver the keynote address, while senior journalist Jovito Lopes will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.
A Chronicle of Goa’s Complex Political Evolution
Now in its third edition and marking 25 years since its first publication, this Silver Jubilee edition offers an in-depth documentation and analysis of Goa’s political landscape from the time of liberation in 1961 up to statehood and the first Assembly term (1989–1994).
The book meticulously tracks every cabinet ministry beginning with Dayanand Bandodkar, Goa’s first Chief Minister, followed by Shashikala Kakodkar, Pratapsingh Rane, the short-lived PDF ministry under Churchill Alemao and Dr. Luis Proto Barbosa, and the high-stakes political rivalry between Ravi Naik and Dr. Wilfred de Souza (Dr. Willy).
Comprehensive Political Analysis and Reference
In addition to chronicling leadership changes, the book captures landmark political moments in Goa’s history, including:
• The Merger and Marathi movement
• The historic Opinion Poll of 1967
• The turbulent language agitation
• The controversies surrounding the Konkan Railway
This academic volume includes extensive appendices covering Chief Ministers, Governors, Opposition Leaders, Speakers, and Assembly terms up to 2022. It also provides detailed election results, offering a rich resource for scholars, students, political activists, and politically engaged citizens alike.
The book is already being referenced in Goan colleges as part of Political Science and History syllabi and is archived in prominent institutions like the Library of Congress in the United States, making it accessible to a global academic audience.
Road Map for the Future
Beyond historical documentation, Post-Colonial Politics in Goa offers a thought-provoking analysis of political trends and outlines a roadmap for the state’s political future, particularly in light of the contemporary challenges Goa faces. A notable feature is a chronological listing of political events from 1963 to 1994, giving readers a structured timeline of the region’s political evolution.
Yet, despite all the detailed facts and historical records, the book leaves one critical question unanswered — How does Goa thrive amidst such political instability? The answer, according to Dr. Fernandes, is left for the reader to ponder.
With this release, Goa gets not just a historical document but a mirror to its political soul — one that reflects both its flaws and its resilience.
