Mark Fernandes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Agostinho Fernandes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 28 May 1926 |
| Died | 20 August 1978 (aged 52) |
| Occupation | Independence activist |
| Known for | Goa liberation movement |
Mark Agostinho Fernandes (28 May 1926 – 20 August 1978) was an Indian independence activist who participated in the Goa liberation movement. He was a prominent member of several nationalist organizations, including the National Congress (Goa) and the United Front of Goans.[1]
Fernandes was born on 28 May 1926 in Quetta, Balochistan. He was the son of Anselmo Estevão Fernandes.[2] He received his education in Karachi, where he completed his Senior Cambridge exams.[1][2]
In his early professional life, Fernandes worked for an oil corporation in Kuwait. However, he was eventually expelled by the Kuwaiti authorities for his activities in organizing the Kuwaiti Goan Workers' Union.[1][2]
Activism
Following his expulsion from Kuwait, Fernandes moved to Bombay in 1946. In Bombay, he established the Young Pioneers Literary Club and became a member of the Goan Youth League (GYL) in 1951.[1][2] By 1951, he was also serving as the joint secretary of the Goan Youth League as well as the joint secretary of the United Front of Goans (UFG).[1][2]
Fernandes later joined the National Congress (Goa) (NCG). He worked under the leadership of Peter Alvares and was a member of the executive committee of the NCG in 1952.[1]
He was actively involved in Satyagraha actions against Portuguese colonial rule. On 15 August 1954, he led a group of 12 Satyagrahis into Goa via the border towns of Banda and Torshem (also known as Torshe or Terem) in Pernem taluka.[2] He was arrested alongside his associates at Naibag and taken to the Panaji police station.[1]
