March 01, 2025
A 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa named Libia Lobo Sardesai was honoured with the Padma Shri on Republic Day in recognition of her involvement in Goa’s struggle for freedom from the colonial rule of the Portuguese. Sardesai and her husband Vaman Sardesai operated a secret radio station named ‘Voz da Liberdade’ that provided people with important updates and information on Goa’s fight against colonialism. The radio station operated underground in the thick forests of the Western Ghats from 1955 to 1961, compiling news to keep the public informed about the freedom struggle. Sardesai and her husband braved several threats, including those from wild creatures, to keep the radio station running.
Image Source: wikipedia.org
