User:Deepak D'Souza/José Inácio de Loyola

José Inácio Fransico Xavier Candido de Loyola,(Born:1891, Died:1973) (popularly known as Fanchu) was one of Goa's foremost nationalists.

Life
José Loyola was born at his maternal grandparents' home on 11th March 1891. His parents were Avertano Loyola and Maria Angelica Conceicao Gomes.

The Loyola family was one of the most prominent families in Goa's politics and Jose was initiated into politics from a young age. His family ran the Partido Indiano, a political organization and its mouthpiece newspaper, India Portuguesa. His uncle, José Loyola(senior) was a famous lawyer and a "political giant" who was a central figure in Goan politics during the 1890's.

At the time of his birth, his father, and uncle Jose were both in exile in British India due to the polticial skirmish at Margao on 21 September 1890 and came back to Goa in September 1891. Jose was baptised after his father's return and the family returned to their home in Orlim, Salcette, Goa.

Jose's mother died when he was six years old. His cousins, daughters of Jose(senior) looked after him and his younger siblings. His father and uncle were preoccupied with politics and had little time for their children. When he was 21 his father passed away leaving Jose to care for his two younger sisters.

Legal practice
Although Loyola was a lawyer, he did not concentrate on his practice and devoted more time to poltics. He was the only lawyer in Goa who was fluent in English and was in high demand with clients from British India. His wife tried to dissuade him from politics and concentrate on his legal practice. She gave up, claiming that politics was in his blood and money meant nothing to him. His niece later quipped that Loyola would have been a millionaire if he had concentrated on his legal practice.

Editor
In his early twenties, Fanchu was the editor of the Journal da India. The governor ordered its suspension on the grounds of disturbing the security of the state and public order. Fanchu retaliated by publishing a pamphlet titled Carta Politica addressed to the governor. Although he complied with the suspension order, he clarified that he would continue to fight for his freedom of expression and promised to come out with another publication if the Journal da India's suspension was not revoked. He further threatened that he would continue bringing out new publications every time one was banned; which he proved by publishing Rebate.

In the 1920's, the political turmoil in Portugal resuted in Provincial Autonomy being granted to Portuguese colonies, including the Estado da India. While most Goan leaders welcomed it as an initial experience in democracy, Fanchu was critical of it. He considered it a failure because Governor Jaime de Morais was manipulating the Legislative council to carry out his own designs and regarded the Legislative council as a waste of time and revenue.He spoke out against the Governor and the Council in the Journal da India.

During the 1926 elections to the Superior Council of Colonies, Loyola, along with the Journal da India, was the chief strategist in Prazeres da Costa's victory against Mario Martins, who was supported by O Heraldo for the Calangute seat.

Agriculture
In 1927, when Loyola was the chief inspector of the Communidades, he intitiated an experiment at Carambolim with a view to increase agricultural productivity by attempting to reap three rice crops in a year instead of two. The scheme was launched with a twenty-one gun salute under the patronage of the Governor's wife but failed due to various reasons.

Mission
In 1958, Loyola went to Delhi to meet Jawaharlal Nehru, the president of the Indian republic, to push for a plebicite in Goa over its future. However, he was convinced that with Krishna Menon incharge a millitary take over was imminent. He returned home dejected and distressed. When his daughter quizzed him, he told her that they had "lost Goa". Loyola's prophecy proved true when, in December 1961, India invaded and annexed Goa without holding a plebicite.

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