Goa Needs a New Revolution —  Not of Guns, But of Conscience

Goa Revolution Day, observed every year on June 18, commemorates the historic day in 1946 when Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and local patriots sparked the first flames of rebellion against Portuguese rule. It was not a violent uprising, but a bold, courageous act that awakened a sleeping population and set the wheels of freedom in motion. Today, as we mark 79 years since that revolutionary call, it is time to ask ourselves: does Goa once again need a revolution—not against a foreign ruler, but against the rot within?

The Goa of 2025 is facing a silent invasion — not from colonisers, but from corruption, drug mafias, prostitution rings, crime syndicates, uncontrolled migrant influx, and mindless land conversions. These forces are colonising our conscience, looting our natural wealth, distorting our identity, and enslaving our youth. The silent cries of Goans are lost beneath the loud music of rave parties, the clinking of corrupt deals, and the silence of those in power.

The state, once synonymous with peace, culture, and dignity, is now frequently in national headlines for the wrong reasons. Drug seizures are no longer shocking. Murders in broad daylight don’t surprise anyone. Prostitution has become organised, institutionalised even, camouflaged under spa boards and tourist brochures. Forests are being eaten by concrete, hills flattened for villas, and rivers choked by greed.

Every politician claims to stand for Goa, yet few dare to act against the powers that pollute its soul. Laws exist, but enforcement is selective. Land is sold to the highest bidder. Police crack down on small peddlers while kingpins remain untouched. Migrant influx continues unchecked, straining resources and fragmenting the social fabric. Villagers are turning into outsiders in their own homes, not because of diversity, but because of displacement.

This decay isn’t merely administrative – it’s moral. When governance serves builders over farmers, drug dealers over children, and profit over people, the time has come not just for reform, but for revolution.

But let us be clear — we do not need a revolution of violence or vengeance. What Goa needs today is a revolution of responsibility, of awareness, and of accountability. We need to reclaim the very idea of Goa — not just its beaches and bars, but its biodiversity, its culture, its dignity, and its peace.

This new revolution must begin in our homes, in our panchayats, in our classrooms, and in our courts. Citizens must stop being silent spectators. Youth must speak, not just on social media but in movements. Media must expose, not endorse. Bureaucrats must implement, not just issue orders. Politicians must lead, not loot.

Our fight today is against apathy — a more dangerous enemy than any foreign ruler. We cannot sit back and expect someone else to save Goa. Just like in 1946, the call for change must come from within us.

We must remember that the revolution Dr. Lohia led was not just to throw out the Portuguese — it was to instil the courage to resist injustice in any form. Today, that same courage is needed — not in a dramatic uprising, but in thousands of small, firm stands against wrongdoing, every single day.

June 18 must not be reduced to floral tributes and government functions. It should be a reminder that freedom is not permanent unless protected. That liberty is not land alone, but the right to live in dignity, in harmony, and with identity.

Goa does not need another Liberation Day — but it most certainly needs a Second Revolution. One that cleanses not just its systems but its spirit. Let the revolution begin.