Gerald Pereira

Gerald Antonio Eustaqio de Monte Pereira (20 September 1929 – 4 March 1976) was an Indian independence activist, author, lawyer and trade unionist. An active contributor in the Goan independence movement, he founded the first trade union in Goa.

Early life Gerald Antonio Eustaqio de Monte Pereira was born on 20 September 1929 in Vasco da Gama, Goa in Portuguese India, to the Goan Catholic family of Xavier Pereira, who worked for a technical firm in Bombay, British India. While studying at the St Joseph's Institute in Vasco, Pereira began participating in the Goan independence movement after being influenced by his school teacher, Dattatraya Deshpande, who was also an independence activist. Deshpande was arrested after he hoisted the Indian flag and distributed nationalist pamphlets in Vasco. Pereira escaped to Bombay, leaving his education incomplete.

Goan independence movement (1952–1955) While in Bombay, Pereira completed his Master of Arts (MA) at St. Xavier's College, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Siddharth College of Law. On 13 December 1952, while he was still a student, he participated actively in a demonstration that displayed black flags to the then Governor-General of Portuguese India, who was visiting the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Pereira was a member of the GPP's central committee and the editor of its publication, Goan Age. As part of the GPP, he also addressed many public meetings on issues like the planning of satyagrahas, encouragement of women to join the independence movement, and the removal of the economic blockade of Goa.

Pereira also published flyers and booklets related to Goan independence movement, including Viva 18th June Movement and Goan Question Reconsidered. In June that year, he was part of a delegation of eleven Goans chosen for consultation by then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Pereira was active in Bombay's trade union movement, and worked with independence activist T. B. Cunha, fellow communists such as B. T. Ranadive, Shripad Amrit Dange and Gangadhar Adhikari.

In 1964–1965, Pereira led another strike of the Port workers for the formation of the Mormugao Dock Labour Board. Pereira was then arrested and imprisoned in the Bicholim sub-jail. This led to the formation of the Action Committee of Trade Unions and Mass Organisations in Goa. Sandesh Prabhudesai describes Pereira as "an expert in history and political science".

Political career (1962–1968) Pereira was one of the founders of the Goa branch of the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), He was also the General Secretary of the Goa branch of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Pereira was a member of the CITU Working Committee. He was defeated by Urminda Mascarenhas.

Other work In 1966, Pereira was chosen to visit the Soviet Union as part of the AITUC delegation of the Indo-Soviet Cultural Society (ISCUS). He was also a part of organisations like the Goan Arts and Culture League, Goa Mundkar and Shetkari Sabha, and the Indo-Cuban Solidarity Centre (CESIC). Goan Question Reconsidered Editor, Selected Writings of Dr. T. B. Cunha