Dadra and Nagar Haveli Celebrated Its 60th Liberation Day

2 August: Liberation Day of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Dadra and Nagar Haveli celebrated its 60th Liberation Day on 2 August 2013. The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli were liberated from the Portuguese rule.

About Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the Union Territory of India, is situated between or surrounded by Gujarat and Maharashtra. 500 sq kilometer small area that is mostly under forest cover is celebrated the 60th Liberation Day, the day on which it was freed from the Portuguese rule in 1954. Indian Nationalist volunteers had librated Dadra and Nagar Havel and it became centrally administered Union territory from 11 August 1961.

Liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Dadra and Nagar Haveli were the Portuguese overseas territories, which remained a part of the Portuguese India from 1779 until 1954.These territories remained enclaves, without having accessibility to sea. These were administered by the Portuguese Governor of the Daman district.

After India got its independence in the year 1947, the residents of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, along with assistance from volunteers of Azad Gomantak Dal, National Movement Liberation Organisation (NMLO), United Front of Goans (UFG) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, subtracted these territories from the Portuguese India in 1954.

Integration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli into India

Despite enjoying the de facto independence, Dadra and Nagar Haveli territories were recognised all over the world as the possessions of the Portuguese. Thereafter, the territory was administered by Varishta Panchayat of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli from 1954 to 1961.

Finally, on 31 December 1974 an official treaty was signed between India and Portugal, which recognised the sovereignty of India over Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.