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This is a translation of an article “Passagem para a India” that was published on the magazine section of O Expresso of December 8, 2001. It was translated by Gabriel Figueiredo gdefigueiredo yahoo.com.au, and reproduced here with his permission. It tells the story from a Portuguese perspective …
Commencing at 0:00 hours of December 18, 1961, the invasion of Goa, Damão and Diu lasted 36 hours. The disproportion was excessive, with the Indian forces being 13 times larger than the Portuguese garrison. The “total sacrifice” requested by Salazar would have been a tragedy. This was the understanding of General Vassalo e Silva, the last governor of a 451-year history, when he surrendered. Carlos Azaredo was one of the military personnel who took part in the events. 40 years later, the general was the guide of O Expresso in a visit to the last years of India Portuguesa#
Carlos Azaredo disembarked for the first time in Goa, on September 17, 1954. An ensign of the Cavalry, 23 years old, he volunteered to defend the so-called “Estado da India Portuguesa” (State of Portuguese India), against a quite probable invasion by the powerful Union of India. “We left Lisbon on board the ‘Serpa Pino’; I was the only Cavalry officer on board”.