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The Untold Love Story of Libia and Vaman Sardesai
In the 1950s, during Goa’s fight for independence, Libia Lobo and Vaman Sardesai fell in love while running the covert mobile radio station ‘Voice of Liberty’. ItsGoa (Being Goan) shares their incredible love story and highlights their mission and struggles, leading to their marriage on December 19, 1964, the third anniversary of Goa’s liberation. Their story, preserved at Aguad Port and Jail Complex, Sinquerim, highlights their courage and enduring love amidst the struggle for freedom.
Love can bloom in the strangest of circumstances, even when one is on the run, evading capture from colonial troops keen on nailing you to the wall.
The backdrop of the love story of veteran freedom fighter, now centenarian Libia Lobo Sardesai and the late Vaman Sardesai was draped with the spirit of defiance. It is a story that bloomed in the heat of the battle for the liberation of Goa, while operating a secret radio station in the forested border region fringing the coastal state.
During the mid-1950s, as Goa continued to remain under Portuguese colonial rule despite the winds of independence blowing across the rest of the country, the struggle for the region’s freedom took a dramatic turn. In the face of violent repression and a
complete blockade imposed by the Indian government on Goa, the resistance movement needed a new voice. It was in this atmosphere of despair and new hope, that the idea of a mobile radio operation, ‘Voice of Liberty’ was born. And as fate would have it, the destinies of Libia and Vaman intermingled, along with the frequencies of the clandestine radio station they started.
“It was such a coincidence that even though we both worked for All India Radio, Vaman and I (first) met, when all of us who were craving for Goa’s freedom came together in Mumbai to figure out a way to start a harmless protest in Goa.” she told ItsGoa.
All India Radio was India’s largest radio station. While Libia worked as a radio jockey, Vaman, who had recently returned from his time at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sevagram Ashram in Maharashtra, joined the external services division, broadcasting the voices and perspectives of the subjugated Goan community.
She recounts, “We were all dejected because we could not do anything. There was no other way to do things non-violently. The Portuguese were telling lies and we needed a way to counter that.”
It was during this critical period that Vaman Sardesai, with his technical expertise, conceived the idea of a mobile radio station. This daring plan to broadcast the truth to Goans trapped under a veil of Portuguese propaganda, operated from 1955 to 1961. In the light of the complete blackout in terms of news and information from the native perspective, this secret radio, which operated from the back of a truck, that came to be known as ‘Voice of Liberty’, significantly pitched in towards Goa’s freedom struggle.
Together, Libia and Vaman transformed a truck into a mobile studio and set up operations in Castlerock, (now along the Goa Karnataka border) a location strategically chosen for its proximity to the border and its seclusion from Portuguese scrutiny. “We wanted the radio to be up and running by November 25 because the Portuguese had conquered Goa on November 25, 1510, and every November they would have a big feast in Goa celebrating their conquest,” she recalls.
Vaman and Libia’s work was a remarkable feat of engineering and determination. Each day, they broadcasted programs designed to uplift the spirit of Goans and counter Portuguese propaganda. In the midst of this high-stakes operation, a personal bond blossomed between the two. Their shared commitment to the cause and tireless efforts forged a deep connection. Libia recalls, “We met while both of us were working for the Satyagraha. It was in the midst of our struggle that we found a deeper connection, both to the cause and to each other.”
The rigorous demands of their work meant that their romance developed against a backdrop of constant movement and danger. Their love story was interwoven with their shared mission, each day bringing them closer as they faced challenges together. Their partnership in the mobile radio project was not just a collaboration in anti-colonial activism, but also in life.
On December 19, 1964, three years after Goa’s liberation, Libia and Vaman Sardesai celebrated their wedding. This date was more than just an anniversary of liberation; it was a celebration of their enduring love and shared journey.
Today, the story of Libia and Vaman Sardesai is preserved at the Aguad Port and Jail complex, Sinquerim, a reminder of the sacrifices made by many, including those who were imprisoned there for participating in the freedom struggle. As visitors explore the complex, they are reminded of the resilience and love that flourished even in the darkest of times.
Their love, forged in the heat of struggle and defiance, remains an inspiring testament to the power of shared purpose and commitment. As the world remembers their story, it stands as a beacon of hope and resilience — both in love and in the pursuit of freedom.
