Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Part of Decolonisation of Asia and Cold War.

Map of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the 1950s.
Date22 July – 11 August 1954
(2 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Result Indian rebel victory
Belligerents

India Nationalist and Communist rebels from India

 Portugal

Commanders and leaders
  • Francis Mascarenhas, leader of UFG
  • Com. L.B. Dhangar, CPI
  • Raja Wakankar, leader of RSS
  • Prabhakar Sinari, leader of AGD
Estado Novo (Portugal) Captain Virgílio Fidalgo, Administrator of Nagar Haveli
Strength

Nearly 201,000 volunteer fighters:

329 units in total:

  • Portuguese India Police constables
Casualties and losses
Unknown 2 killed[2]

The Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli was the conflict in which the territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli passed from Portuguese rule to independent rule, with Indian allegiance, in 1954.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli were small undefended Portuguese overseas territories, part of Portuguese India ever since they were handed over by the Maratha Empire after the Treaty of 1779. The territories were enclaves, without any access to the sea, administered by the Portuguese Governor of the district of Damão.

After India attained independence in 1947, some residents, with the help of volunteers from organizations such as the United Front of Goans (UFG), the National Movement Liberation Organization (NMLO), the Goa People's Party (affiliated to communist ideology), and the Communist Party of India. The movement was also supported by nationalist organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD). Volunteers and organizers occupied Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 1954 and displaced Portuguese rule. The territories were subsequently merged into the Republic of India in 1961.

  1. ^ Hindu Nationalism in India: Ideological corollaries. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 130. The RSS people also participated in 1954 in the liberation struggle of Nagar Haveli enclave from Portugal
  2. ^ Azaredo, Carlos; Gabriel Figueiredo (translation) (8 December 2001). "Passage to India – 18th December 1961". Goancauses.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010.