NEW DELHI/PANAJI — Today marks the anniversary of the commencement of Operation Vijay, the decisive military action launched by the Indian Armed Forces on December 17, 1961, which brought down the curtain on 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in India.
The operation, which liberated the territories of Goa, Daman, and Diu, is celebrated as a watershed moment in India’s post-independence history, demonstrating the nation’s resolve to unify its territory after diplomatic channels had been exhausted.
The Flashpoint
Tensions between India and Portugal had been simmering for over a decade. Despite repeated requests by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the Portuguese to vacate their colonial possessions, the regime in Lisbon refused, claiming Goa as an integral province of Portugal. The tipping point arrived following a series of provocations, including the firing on the Indian passenger boat Sabarmati, which compelled the Indian government to authorize military intervention.
Timeline of Victory
Hostilities officially commenced in the early hours of December 17, 1961.
Ground Offensive: The Indian Army’s 50th Para Brigade and 63rd Infantry Brigade breached the borders from the north and east. Despite pockets of resistance, particularly at Maulinguem, Indian troops advanced rapidly.
Naval & Air Support: The Indian Navy, led by INS Mysore and INS Trishul, enforced a blockade to prevent Portuguese reinforcements. Simultaneously, the Indian Air Force neutralized the Dabolim Airport, crippling the enemy's ability to respond.
The Surrender: By December 18, Indian troops had overrun most of the territory, reaching Panaji and Mormugão. Realizing the futility of further resistance, the Portuguese Governor-General, Manuel António Vassalo e Silva, formally signed the Instrument of Surrender on December 19, 1961.
Casualties and Aftermath
The operation was swift and relatively bloodless compared to prolonged colonial conflicts. Historical records confirm 22 casualties on the Indian side and 30 on the Portuguese side. Over 4,600 Portuguese personnel were taken as prisoners of war.
While the physical liberation was achieved in under 48 hours, it took another 13 years for diplomatic normalization; Portugal formally recognized Indian sovereignty over Goa only in 1974, following the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon.
Significance Today
December 19 is celebrated annually as Goa Liberation Day. As the nation looks back on this date, military historians continue to study Operation Vijay as a textbook example of a coordinated tri-service operation (Army, Navy, and Air Force) that achieved its political and military objectives with minimal collateral damage.
