Vishwanath Lawande

Vishwanath Lawande (20 April 1923 – 15 September 1998) was an Indian independence activist and lawyer. He was a founder member of the Azad Gomantak Dal and played an important role in the Indian annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. He was fondly referred to as Kaka.

Early life Vishwanath Narayan Lawande was born on 20 April 1923 at Goa Velha, to Narayan Pandurang Lawande. He had completed his BSc and LLB degrees. He pursued his BSc in Kolhapur. While here, he interacted with Achyut Patwardhan and Mohan Ranade. He also met Ram Manohar Lohia, who greatly influenced him. In 1946, he joined the Banaras Hindu University to pursue chemical engineering. However, he left to participate in the Goan independence movement.

In December 1960, Lawande 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 Goa's independence. Others in the delegation were Eclito D’Souza, Irene Heredia, George Vaz, Lambert Mascarenhas, Aruna Asaf Ali and Bertha Braganza.

Between 1954 and 1961, he enrolled 400 AGD workers. Together, they conducted armed raids at Ravan military centre and at police stations in Honda, Keri, Chandel, Aldona, Betim, Kodal and Hankhon. They bombed mines at Pirla, Shirgaon, Sonshi and Pali, along with the Calem bridge and Caranzol railway station. They also ambushed patrol jeeps, resulting in a situation of terror. Lawande set up 13 centres of the AGD along the border of Portuguese Goa, along with a clandestine radio centre, the Azad Goa Radio. Till the Indian annexation of Goa, he organised meetings and protest marches in Belgaum and Bombay.

Lawande then contested elections from the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate in the 1967 elections to the Lok Sabha but did not win.

Lawande later practiced law and organised protests of drivers, workers, farmers and teachers. He was a member of the first Consultative Committee of the Lieutenant Governor of Goa, Daman and Diu.

Lawande wrote books in Marathi, Mayem-Swatantrya Ladhyachya Aghadivarit Gaon and Vyartha Na He Balidan.

Death Lawande died on 15 September 1998 of malarial fever at the Goa Medical College.

Awards and accolades In 1962, Lawande was awarded a scroll of honour by the administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. He was later awarded the Tamrapatra by the Government of India but he refused it.

Works Mayem-Swatantrya Ladhyachya Aghadivarit Gaon Vyartha Na He Balidan Na Ghetle te Vrat Andhatene (autobiography)