In 1947 when India gained independence from the British Empire, it got the rest of the country thinking, well why can’t we all revolt and take our country back for ourselves? The idea especially resonated in Daman and Diu, two coastal cities with fairly large populations, which were controlled and owned by Portugal from the start of the 16th century.
On this day December 19th, in 1961, the Annexation of Goa takes place, which includes Daman and Diu. India’s forces attacked the Portuguese in the cities. Indian forces were so successful that the battle only lasted 36 hours and had less than 100 casualties.
For most of India’s people, this was seen as liberation and a wonderful thing. Revolution against the Portuguese already began in 1928 when Tristão de Bragança Cunha created the Goa Congress Committee. In 1950, India’s government requested that Portugal should discuss the future of Portuguese colonies in India, to which Portugal replied that it was non-negotiable as these weren’t colonies. After being there since 1510, it seems the Portuguese couldn’t recognize they were still foreigners.