Goa Opinion Poll to be part of school history syllabus

Panaji: The historic Opinion Poll or referendum of 1967 during which people of Goa voted against merger with Maharashtra will feature in a history textbook from the new academic year, a senior official said Wednesday.

The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has decided to include a chapter on the Goa Opinion Poll in standard IX history book from this year.

GBSHSE chairman Ramakrishna Samant said former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had directed that the Opinion Poll should be part of school curriculum. The Goa Forward Party led by deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai had also demanded that the Opinion Poll be part of school syllabus.

After Goa's liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961, it became a Union Territory. While a section of population, led by then ruling `Maharashtrawadi' (pro-Maharashtra) Gomantak Party, favoured merger with the neighbouring state, others wanted Goa to be a separate entity.

The anti-merger group was led by activist Dr Jack Sequeira. An opinion poll was held on January 16, 1967, in which majority of the participants (about 54 per cent) opted against merger.