Shashikala Hodarkar e Almeida | |
|---|---|
| File:Shashikala Hodarkar.jpg | |
| Born | Shashikala Mangesh Hodarkar 23 June 1931 |
| Died | 2 September 2024 (aged 93) Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Education | B. A. |
| Movement | Goa liberation movement |
| Spouse(s) | Anastacio Almeida |
Shashikala Mangesh Hodarkar e Almeida (née Hodarkar; 23 June 1931 – 2 September 2024) was an Indian freedom fighter from Goa. She was a member of the National Congress (Goa) and is known for her participation in the Satyagraha movement against Portuguese colonial rule in 1955.[1]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Shashikala Mangesh Hodarkar was born on 23 June 1931 in Ponda taluka, Portuguese Goa. She completed her education up till a B. A. degree.[2][3]
Freedom struggle[edit | edit source]
Hodarkar's involvement in the independence movement was influenced by her older brother, Ramesh Bhai Hodarkar, who was a jailed activist, and the freedom fighter Sindhu Deshpande. Deshpande, who had arrived in Goa from Ahmednagar, stayed at the Hodarkar residence and encouraged the young Shashikala to join the movement.[1]
Although Hodarkar intended to join a Satyagraha scheduled for 25 November 1954 at Azad Maidan in Panaji, she was initially prevented from doing so by her mother. She subsequently joined the National Congress Goa to further her involvement in the struggle.[1] She was in contact with Peter Alvares and was detained for possession of "subversive literature".[4]
On 17 February 1954, Pundalik Gaitonde was arrested for a verbal protest during a function. To commemorate this, in 17 February 1955, Hodarkar participated in a Satyagraha in Margao. Alongside Vilasini Prabhu (later Mahale), she distributed leaflets featuring the slogan "Quit Goa" written in Portuguese. During the protest, the two women raised the Indian flag and shouted the nationalist slogan "Jai Hind". Following this action, Hodarkar was arrested by the Margao police.[2][1]
Imprisonment[edit | edit source]
Following her arrest in 1955, Hodarkar was sentenced to prison and remained jailed until 1958. During her trial, records of which are maintained in the Goa State Archives, she noted that she was not subjected to physical assault while in custody.[2][1] Further, her political rights were suspended for 15 years.[5]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Hodarkar later married Anastacio Almeida, who was also a freedom fighter. In her later years, she resided in Margao near the Ana Fonte spring.[1]
Accolades[edit | edit source]
Hodarkar was honoured by the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu on 18 June 1986.[2]
Her life story was documented in the Aguada Fort's interactive Museum in the 2020s.[6] A book documenting her trial by the Portuguese was also released by the Goa government in 2024.[7]
Hodarkar was honoured by Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during "Priyadarshani Women’s Conference" in Margao in 2022.[8]
Death[edit | edit source]
Hodarkar died on 2 September 2024 in Pune. She was cremated on the same evening at the Vaikunth Smashan Bhumi.[9]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sakhardande, Prajal (2024). History of Women's Contribution to Goa's Struggle for Freedom (1928-1961). pp. 47–49.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Shirodkar, Pandurang Purushottam (1986). Who's Who of Freedom Fighters, Goa, Daman, and Diu. Vol. 1. Goa Gazetteer Department, Government of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu. p. 8.
- ↑ Halarnkar, Tanaji, ed. (1999). [Konkani Encyclopaedia] (in गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni). Vol. 1. Goa: Goa University. p. 215 – via Wikisource.
- ↑ "Women who fought the Portuguese and social stigma". The Times of India. 19 December 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Unsung Heroes | History Corner | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India". cmsadmin.amritkaal.nic.in. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Celebrating Shashikala Hodarkar's freedom struggle on her birthday". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Freedom fighter Alfred Afonso to be honoured with statue at Terekhol". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Freedom fighter Shashikala Almeida Hodarkar passes away". Goemkarponn - Goa News. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "मुक्ती संग्रामाची साक्षिदार... | Remembering freedom fighter Shashikala Hodarkar | Prudent | 030924". www.prudentmedia.in. Retrieved 10 April 2026.