Vaman Balkrishna Naique Prataprao Sardesai (5 May 1923 – 6 May 1994) was an Indian poet, freedom fighter and diplomat. Along with Libia Lobo Sardesai, whom he later married, he ran an underground radio station, Voice of Freedom, that transmitted across Portuguese Goa from 1955 to 1961, advocating the cause of the Goan liberation movement. Following the Annexation of Goa, he became the second editor of Goa Today magazine, and went on to become an IAS officer, serving as the Indian Ambassador to Angola. In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Shri. He has also been the co-convenor of INTACH.
Early life: Education, writing and radio (1923–1954)
Vaman Balkrishna Naique Prataprau Sardesai was born to Bhalchandra Desai on 5 May 1923 in the village of Vadi, Ponda taluka, Goa.[3] Sardesai was a student of medicine at Escola Médica Cirúrgica de Goa when he was arrested in 1947 for distributing "anti-colonial literature".[4] He was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment by the Portuguese Military Tribunal.[5]
Following his release, he moved to Wardha and spent four years at Gandhi's Sevagramashram. There, he worked with Ravindra Kelekar to publish Konkani language poems in their fortnightly publication Meerg, writing under the pseudonym of "Abhijeet".[6] Sardesai travelled around Nagpur to help in the magazine's success and ensured that copies would be distributed across the country. His writings displayed his strong linguistic skills. He was skilled in Konkani, Marathi, and Portuguese languages. Even though he left his education incomplete, he taught language subjects in important educational institutions in Panaji.[2]
Then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, respected Goa's freedom fighters and implemented policies that allowed many poets and writers fleeing from Goa to join government service. This led to Sardesai joining the External Services Division at All India Radio, Bombay.[2] As part of this, he created poems and programmes to spread awareness about "the problem of Goa" to other countries.[4]
In 1954–55, the Portuguese attacked and killed several Satyagrahis who had peacefully entered the Goan borders, demanding the end of colonial rule in Goa. Following this, India closed its borders with Goa, imposing an economic blockade, thus reducing free movement and trade. Sardesai, Libia Lobo and Nicolau Menezes, a Goan freedom fighter who had been living in hiding in Bombay, came together to form a team. Using two wireless radio sets, which were confiscated the Portuguese, were converted into a radio transmitter. This grew to be the Voice of Freedom radio station, through which Sardesai, Lobo and Menezes would transmit news and important information to Goans.[5][7][8]
They initially lived in the jungles of Amboli Ghat, approx. 100km (62mi) from Goa, transmitting an hour-long programme. After Menezes and his wife left, Sardesai and Lobo shifted to Castle Rock, Karnataka (approx. 50km (31mi) from Goa).[5]
In the days preceding Operation Vijay, Lobo and Sardesai were contacted by the Indian defence forces. On 17 December 1961, the station transmitted a direct message from then Defence Minister of India, V. K. Krishna Menon, requesting the Portuguese Governor General to surrender. Following the success of Operation Vijay and the liberation of Goa on 19 December 1961, Lobo and Sardesai boarded an Indian Air Force plane with a radio and loudspeaker attached to it, flying over Goa and dropping leaflets and announcing the freedom of Goa.[5]
Post Liberation (1961 onwards)
Sardesai and Lobo got married on 19 December 1964, the third anniversary of the Liberation of Goa. They had no children.[4]
Sardesai was among the first three senior officers from Goa to join the Indian Administrative Service and was given significant responsibilities, serving as director of various departments such as Industries, Information, Sales Tax Commissionerate, and District Collector.[2]
Sardesai became the second editor of Goa Today magazine,[9] after which he went on to serve as the Indian Ambassador to Angola from 1988 to 1991.[10] He was also the co-convenor of INTACH.[1]
Awards
While serving as the Indian Ambassador to Angola, Sardesai was awarded a medal by their Prime Minister for his meritorious service. In 1992, Sardesai was awarded the Padma Shri.[1]
