Goa Referendum: A look back at India's only public vote on whether to join Maharashtra or remain separate

Goa Referendum: A look back at India's only public vote on whether to join Maharashtra or remain separate

In a rare democratic experiment, Goa held India's only referendum in 1967 to decide its future- independence as a Union Territory or merger with neighboring Maharashtra. This public vote, born from post-liberation tensions, affirmed Goa's distinct identity and set a precedent against forced linguistic mergers, shaping the region's unique cultural-political path. Liberation from Portugal and early merger demands Goa remained under Portuguese colo…