Who Is Libia Lobo Sardesai?

Libia Lobo Sardesai, who turned 100 in 2025, is a freedom fighter who played a crucial role in Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule. She was born in Mumbai and later moved to Panaji, where she pursued a career in law and became the first female lawyer to practice in Goa. Despite her steady career path, she chose to join the fight for Goa’s freedom when she saw the hardships faced by the people under Portuguese rule. Her decision to go underground and work for the liberation movement marked her as one of the key figures in Goa’s history.

The 'Voice of Freedom'

In 1955, Libia co-founded Voz da Liberdade (Voice of Freedom), an underground radio station that spread messages of hope and resistance during Goa’s fight for freedom. She, along with her future husband, Vaman Sardesai, broadcast messages in Konkani and Portuguese to counter the strict censorship and propaganda imposed by the Portuguese government. The station operated secretly from the forests of the Western Ghats, where the team faced tough conditions, including threats from wildlife. Their broadcasts encouraged Goans to unite against the colonial regime and played an important role in keeping the spirit of the freedom movement alive.

The Freedom Fighter Who Went Underground

In November 1955, Libia Lobo Sardesai disappeared from public view. Officially, she had taken a transfer to Belgaum, but in reality, she was heading deep into the forests of the Western Ghats. Along with her future husband, Vaman Sardesai, and fellow activist Nicolau Menezes, she co-founded an underground radio station named Voz da Liberdade (Voice of Freedom).

Broadcasting in secrecy, the station carried anti-colonial messages aimed at uplifting the spirit of Goans living under Portuguese rule. Libia’s broadcasts were in Konkani, while Vaman spoke in Portuguese. “It was illegal, so we had to be very careful,” Libia recalls. The trio worked long hours to prepare their twice-daily broadcasts, gathering news, writing scripts, and maintaining the equipment—all while avoiding capture by Portuguese authorities.

The challenges they faced in the jungle were immense. “We had to deal with venomous snakes, leeches, and a complete lack of basic comforts,” she says. But their mission kept them going. For six years, Libia lived in secrecy, working tirelessly to support Goa’s fight for freedom.

In December 1961, Goa was finally liberated from Portuguese rule. Libia vividly remembers the day General J.N. Chaudhuri, Chief of Army Staff, brought them the news. Her immediate reaction was to celebrate the victory by sharing it with the people of Goa. She and Vaman boarded a plane and dropped leaflets over the state, announcing the end of colonial rule.

“It was an unforgettable moment,” she recalls. “We saw people coming out of their homes to pick up the leaflets. It was the first time they had seen a plane fly so low.”