Thread by @blurt2kc

Thread :Mohan Ranade was a lawyer by profession . He was from Maharashtra. In 1950's though India was free Goa was still under Portuguese rule. Ranade entered Goa in 1950 under the pretext of being a Marathi tutor and joined Azad gomantak Dal , a covert Goan independence movement

For nearly 4 years he carried several armed attacks against Goan police posts liberated Dadra and Nagar haveli. He became the most wanted man in Portuguese colonies. the last such attack was at Betim, in 1955 in which he was injured , captured and exiled to Portugal

Goa attained independence on 19 December 1961 when jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian army threatened military action and cut off all the supplies to the Portuguese settlers. Ranade who was facing live imprisonment was rotting away in a jail in Portugal despite Goa 's freedom

Despite the Indian Govt 's efforts Ranade remained in jail and the Portuguese were stubborn that he will complete his life imprisonment at Goa.

The Dravidian movement swept away Tamil Nadu and has its first electoral power in 1968 under . Dr. C.N. Annadurai. During that year on a state visit to Vatican city. Dr. Annadurai met Pope St. Paul VI. the pope was taken aback by Anna's dynamism and eloquence

They grew mutual respect . Though an atheist pope was really impressed by Anna's vigour . He asked him if he needs any favour. Then Anna informed the pope about the plight of Mohan Ranade and asked if he could liaison with the Catholic Portuguese govt

Pope promised and he successfully liasoned with the Portuguese government and Mohan Ranade was released on 26th January 1969. Mohan Ranade was shocked that his release was secured by an idealogue he hasn't met or never heard of

Anna died in 3rd Feb 1960 . Mohan Ranade who returned to India first visited Anna's cemetery in Chennai , paid his respects then he returned to Goa and then settled in Pune . He was felicitated with several state honours after that.

#Anna112

@Maganlal1303 the more expansive thread I guess

*3rd Feb 1969