George Vaz

George Vaz (14 July 1919 – 1999) was an Indian independence activist, trade unionist and politician.

Early life

George Vaz was born on 14 July 1919 in Bombay to Sebastião Xavier Vaz.

Goan independence movement Vaz was associated with the Goan Youth League,

Vaz was greatly inspired by Ram Manohar Lohia and the events of Goa Revolution Day. He described Lohia's inspiration to Goan independence activists in these words: "18th June was like a big Light House that guided many ships traveling in the sea."

In 1946, he was chosen as a member of the executive committee of the GCC. On 28 October 1946, he was arrested after he attempted to deliver a speech in Sanquelim, following which he was imprisoned and then left across the border of Portuguese Goa on 19 November that year. On 15 December, he was arrested once again for attempting to enter Goa. On 12 February 1947, he was tried by the TMT and fined and imprisoned for three months.

Vaz was an active Leftist and was also the Secretary of the Goa Action Committee. He was chosen as a member of the panel of minorities that had been appointed by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti. He was also associated with the Bombay Youth League and was a participant at the International Youth Rally, that was held outside India. Vaz was part of a delegation that met with then Home Minister of India Pandit Pant in New Delhi, urging the Indian government to take action for the freedom of Goa. Others in the delegation were Eclito D’Souza, Irene Heredia, Vishwanath Lawande, Lambert Mascarenhas, Aruna Asaf Ali and Bertha Braganza.

Also in December 1960, the third National Conference for Afro-Asian solidarity took place in Bombay, calling for the immediate freedom of Goa, Daman and Diu and forming a National Campaign Committee for this purpose. In April 1961, Vaz and Cajetan Lobo, both secretaries of the National Campaign Committee, took part in a three-day Conference of Nationalist Organisations of the Portuguese Colonies at Casablanca, Morocco. The participants of the conference deliberated on the political problems of the Portuguese colonies in Africa and India. Pundalik Gaitonde also attended the conference with them.

Post-annexation of Goa

Vaz was a prominent Communist trade union leader, having led multiple workers' protests and strikes in both Goa and Bombay. He was a member of the National Council of the Communist Party of India. He was also the General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress in Goa and was a member of its national Executive Committee.

Vaz also contested in the 1967 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election but did not win.

Vaz contested elections from the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency as a candidate of the CPI in 1984 but did not win.

Death Vaz died in 1999.

Accolades On 18 June 1982, Vaz was honoured by the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu.