59 Years ago today

 Till today, I remember running along with other boys, 59 years ago. on the winding path through our ward of Cumbiem Morod, leading to the red mud road that passed through our village of Guirim, in Bardez, Goa, to see the Indian Army proceeding slowly, heading for the capital, Panjim. I saw young boys, accompanied by older folks of our village, waving out to the Indian soldiers sitting on top of their tanks in full battle gear. And I waved out as well! The boys shouted "Jai Hind" and I followed doing the same. I was fourteen years young.

I was fascinated by the artillery comprising of huge tanks,armoured cars, jeeps and trailers, gun carriages with canons of

different shapes and sizes towed by trucks, proceeding towards Panjim. They created clouds of dust as they rumbled along.

Most of the soldiers had moustaches, beards and turbans. All were smiling. The military procession continued long after dusk and trickled into the night. Here's my depiction in a drawing of Indian Troops driving through Guirim in Bardez on the evening of 18th December 1961, on their way via Betim to the capital, Panjim, ending Portuguese rule in Goa of over 450 years.