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Module - V Indo-Pakistan War 1947-1948

Major Wars Post
Operation Vijay
Independence
The liberation of Goa was the process in which the Republic of India annexed the
Portuguese occupied Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu. It started with the
action carried out by the Indian Armed Forces led by General Chaudhari on 13
December 1961. This action is referred as the "Liberation of Goa". The armed action
was code named 'Operation VIJAY' by the Indian Armed Forces. The operation
Note
involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours, and it was a decisive victory for
the Republic of India, ending 451 years of rule of Portugal over its remaining enclaves
in India. The engagement lasted two days and twenty-two Indians and thirty Portuguese
were killed in the fighting. The brief conflict drew a mixture of worldwide praise and
condemnation. In India, the action was seen as liberation of Indian territory, while
Portugal viewed it as an aggression against national soil and its citizens.

(a) The strategy employed was very successful as the Indian Army sealed main land
routes connecting Goa and India and co-ordination with Air Force and Navy
was the backbone of success. With Indian Air Force bombarding radio station
at Bambolim and the airport at Dabolim and the Navy placing its advance force
comprising frigates INS Betwa, INS Beas and gigantic aircraft carrier INS Vikrant
along the coast of Goa, the blockade was complete.

(b) Finally on 19th December 1961 Indian national flag was hoisted by Major
General K.P.Candeth and at 6 PM the operation came to halt with Portuguese
Governor Salo deSilva formally surrendering to Brig. K.S. Dhillon under
headlights of the car of Portuguese Governor.

Activity 16.3

List the Param Veer Chakra winners during 1947-48 Jammu & Kashmir. Find the
images of winners and paste on the map of J & K on the location where they fought
the war.

Intext Questions 16.5

1. What was Operation Vijay?
2. When was Operation VIJAY launched?
3. When was Goa liberated from the Portuguese?

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MILITARY HISTORY