https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Alfred_AlfonsoAlfred Alfonso - Revision history2026-10-21T01:54:50ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Alfonso&diff=485498&oldid=prevGeri3389994518: adding entry2026-04-10T11:28:16Z<p>adding entry</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian independence activist (1924–1986)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Alfred Alfonso<br />
| image = Portrait of Alfred Alfonso.jpeg<br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|3|11|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = Galjibaga, [[Canacona taluka]], [[Portuguese Goa]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|9|10|1924|3|11|df=yes}}<br />
| death_place = <br />
| occupation = <br />
| education = [[Senior Cambridge]]<br />
| movement = [[Goa liberation movement]]<br />
| notable_works = <br />
| awards = <br />
| spouse = <br />
| children = <br />
| relatives = <br />
}}<br />
'''Alfred Afonso''' (11 March 1924 – 10 September 1986) was an Indian independence activist and trade union leader from [[Goa]]. He is best known for leading a group of [[Satyagraha|Satyagrahis]] to capture the [[Terekhol Fort]] during the [[Goa liberation movement]] in 1954.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86">{{Cite book |last=Shirodkar |first=Pandurang Purushottam |author-link=Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISScyAEACAAJ |title=Who's Who of Freedom Fighters, Goa, Daman, and Diu |date=1986 |publisher=Goa Gazetteer Department, Government of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu |volume=1 |pages=3–4}}</ref><ref name="Vishwakosh1999">{{cite wikisource |editor-first1=Tanaji |editor-last1=Halarnkar |editor-link1=Tanaji Halarnkar |others= |title=Konkani Vishwakosh |trans-title=Konkani Encyclopaedia |wslink=Page:Konkani Viswakosh Vol1.pdf/175 |type= |edition= |series= |pages=175 |volume=1 |year=1999 |publisher=[[Goa University]] |location=Goa |language=gom |wslanguage=gom }}</ref><br />
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==Early life and education==<br />
Afonso was born on 11 March 1924, at Galjibaga in the [[Canacona taluka]] of [[Portuguese Goa]] to Anthony Francisco Afonso. He completed his education up to the [[Senior Cambridge]] level.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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==Goa liberation movement==<br />
Beginning in 1946, Afonso was active in the [[Bombay]] Goan community, where he conducted political propaganda to raise awareness about the liberation of Goa. In 1951, an arrest warrant was issued against him. In 1952, he was chosen as the president of the Bombay branch of the National Congress (Goa) (NCG) and later became a member of its Executive Committee.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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In 1954, Afonso resigned from the Bombay Telephones to dedicate himself fully to the independence movement.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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On 15 August 1954, he led a group of 14 satyagrahis from Siroda to the [[Terekhol Fort]]. The group successfully captured the fort, hoisted the [[Indian tricolour]], and controlled the fort for one day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Faleiro |first=Valmiki |author-link=Valmiki Faleiro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYLyEAAAQBAJ |title=Goa, 1961: The Complete Story of Nationalism and Integration |date=2023-07-24 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5708-175-7 |page=69 |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> Following this action, he and the other activists were arrested. During his transfer to police custody in [[Panaji]], he was physically assaulted before and during his detention. He was then tried by the Portuguese Territorial Military Tribunal (TMT). On 31 March 1955, he was sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment followed by three years of simple imprisonment. He was held at the [[Aguada Fort]] and was eventually released on 17 May 1959.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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==Later career==<br />
Afonso later became a union leader. He was a key organizer of the National Trade Union Congress in Goa and served as the General Secretary of the National Mine Workers' Union. Professionally, he worked as a manager for a mining firm.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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==Accolades==<br />
On 18 June 1981, the Government of [[Goa, Daman and Diu]] honoured him for his contributions to the liberation movement.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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In 2024, it was announced that a statue of Alfonso would be placed at Terekhol in his honour. This was after some protests regarding the removal of a plaque stating his contribution to the freedom struggle. A book documenting his trial by the Portuguese was also released by the Goa government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freedom fighter Alfred Afonso to be honoured with statue at Terekhol |url=https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/freedom-fighter-alfred-afonso-to-be-honoured-with-statue-at-terekhol/119928.html |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Death==<br />
Alfonso died on 10 September 1986.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfonso, Alfred}}<br />
[[Category:1924 births]]<br />
[[Category:1986 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]<br />
[[Category:Goa liberation activists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian trade union leaders]]<br />
[[Category:People from South Goa district]]</div>Geri3389994518