Julião Menezes

Julião Menezes (7 August 1909 – 2 July 1980) was an Indian independence activist, medical practitioner, writer, and nationalist leader. He played a prominent role in the annexation of Goa from the Portuguese rule and was active in the Goan independence movement. Menezes established the publication Gomantak Praja Mandal, to promote nationalism among Goans. He was a member of the provisional committee of the Indian National Congress in Portuguese Goa and was present at its session in 1948. He played an active role during its formation. Menezes, along with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, planned the civil disobedience movement against Salazar's regime in Goa on 18 June 1946, a day that is now celebrated as Goa Revolution Day.

Early life Julião Menezes was born on 7 August 1909 in Assolnã, Goa, which was part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire (now in India), to Zeferinho Piedade Menezes, a professional seafarer, and Maria Salvacao. He was the second of six siblings: Argentina, Rupertina, Roque, Menelau, and Alzira.

Menezes's father died when he was young, which caused financial constraints for the family. Despite this, his mother encouraged him to study at Berlin University in Weimar Republic (now Germany), from where he graduated with a medical degree.

1930 League of Nations session During his school days, Menezes considered the Goan journalist Luís de Menezes Bragança and other prominent writers as his role models. While studying medicine at Berlin University, he met socialist political leader Ram Manohar Lohia, who was studying economics. They soon became friends and were part of the Indian Students' Union in Berlin, Weimar Republic (now Germany). Menezes also offered protection to Lohia when he went into hiding during the 1942 Quit India Movement.

Role in the Goan independence movement (1938–1946) In 1938, Menezes started spreading nationalistic propaganda with the support of the Juvenile Club de Assolnã. It was during this time that a library was set up as a front for the meetings of the freedom fighters of the Assolnã, Velim, and Cuncolim (AVC) villages. After the Piazza Cross in front of the Assolnã Church was found demolished, the Portuguese police suspected Menezes and the members of the club. They raided the club and library premises but were unable to arrest Menezes, who had already fled to Bombay, British India. The Portuguese later auctioned the library and club assets through the Revenue Department. Following this, the Portuguese government enforced a ban on gatherings of more than five people in the Assolnã market for three months.

Death Menezes died as a bachelor at his residence in Dhobitalao, Bombay, on 2 July 1980, at the age of 70. with an aim to spread nationalism amongst the Goans. Three years later, in 1942, he launched a bilingual, English-Konkani weekly named Gomantak. Some of his notable publications include, Beitrag zur chirurgischen Behandlung des Nierensteinleidens (1938), Goa's Freedom Struggle (1947), Goa: What of the Future, and Contra Roma E Além de Benares (1948).

Legacy A memorial named after Menezes and his companion Ram Manohar Lohia was constructed in the Assolna market, called the Lohia Chowk.

On 18 June 1986, the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu honoured Menezes posthumously.