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In a tiny white-washed cell of the Aguada Jail, freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia stands tall in a well-pleated dhoti, the highest button of his jacket unbuttoned, his sandals strapped tidily and his face laden with an unwavering resolve to free Goa from Portuguese rule. The iron bars appear unpenetrable and a blue plaque with nook flourish states that “Ram Manohar Lohia impressed a non-violent civil disobedience on the Central Sq. in Margao, South Goa, on June 18, 1946, for which he was incarcerated on the Aguada Jail. Historical past now refers to at the present time because the Goa Revolution Day.” (Additionally learn: 10 must-see movie places in Goa)
However a lot earlier than Lohia and different nationalists have been locked behind bars, The Aguad was not a jail. In-built 1612 and initially referred to as Praca Da Santa Catharina, it was first a port offering a secure berth for Portuguese ships that docked right here for replenishment of freshwater and provides – it held the biggest freshwater storages in Asia with capability to retailer 2,376,000 gallons of water, Asia’s oldest lighthouse, a gunpowder room and rainwater harvesting reservoir. It’s from these freshwater reservoirs and historic aquifers comes its identify ‘Aguad’ (Agua ‘water’, Da ‘offers’).
However the destiny of The Aguad was to vary when António de Oliveira Salazar grew to become the Prime Minister of Portugal in 1932. The quiet aristocrat, an anomaly amidst exuberant and demagogic trendy dictators, who was hellbent on scuttling all makes an attempt by Goans to interrupt the shackles of international rule, turned The Aguad into a jail the place ‘sinners’ have been huddled in tiny cells and high-risk prisoners have been remoted within the kalkothri (darkish room) whereby not a ray of sunshine may stroll in by way of the window. Torture cells boomed with cries of the bruised and overwhelmed inmates and any try to flee was close to unimaginable.

On the evening of December 18, 1961, Main Shivdev Singh Sidhu and Captain Vijay Kumar Sehgal, lead a squadron of the seventh Cavalry Division reached The Aguad aiming to rescue the Goan freedom fighters imprisoned right here. On December 19, 1961, Goa formally grew to become a part of India and was declared as a Union Territory together with Daman and Diu.
After 1961 Aguad grew to become Goa’s central jail which it remained until 2015. Later, it was repurposed to create consciousness among the many normal public and vacationers in regards to the wealthy historical past & heritage of Goa, specifically the liberty motion.

The Interactive Museum: Divided into three distinct sections: Goa: The Land, The Battle, and The Individuals, the museum presents a wealthy narrative of the area. Every space has interactive reveals with a sensible content material administration system that provide a singular storytelling expertise.
Highlights: The Land part has a Story Machine that dispenses brief story excerpts, offering tangible snippets of Goa’s historical past and The Mosaic: an interactive photograph sales space merging guests’ photographs to create artwork mosaics, like a Goa map.
The Individuals options varied kiosks like Pre-Historic, Goenkars that inform tales of distinguished figures in Goan historical past and The Music of Goa exhibit that immerses guests within the area’s musical heritage.
The Battle part has a Time Machine: With every lever-pull, the time machine reveals historic occasions from a random date; Sacrifice: Unlock an interactive jail cell to be taught in regards to the sacrifices made by jailed freedom fighters; The Story Machine: Dispenses freedom struggle-related tales on the click on of a button, whereas the Interactive Freedom Fighters Wall permits guests to attach with the tales of Goa’s freedom fighters, and the Message In A Bottle exhibit presents a glimpse into their ideas and experiences.
Reality file

Aguad Port & Jail Complicated, Sinquerim (www.aguad.in/; Instagram: @aguadgoa)
(https://www.instagram.com/aguadgoa/)
Timings: 10 am to eight pm
Reserving: Ebook on-line on the Aguad web site, or on the counter from 10 am to eight pm.
Entry charges: Common guests: INR 200; Goan Locals: INR 100; Worldwide Guests: INR 400; Youngsters: Free for these as much as 8 years. Service and retired defence/paramilitary workers, their fast relations, freedom fighters and their descendants, and school-going kids of their uniforms are exempt from ticket fees.
Parking charges: INR 100
Audio guides may be accessed by way of a scan code

Guided Heritage stroll by MakeItHappen: Length: 45 minutes. Day walks: INR 500, Evening Walks: INR 700 per individual (Entry payment to Aguad is included). Ebook walks at MakeitHappen web site.
Programme (December 16, 2023 to January 2, 2024):
• Bhanu Athaiya exhibition: December 6, 2023 – January 2, 2024
• Christmas by the Sea: December 16, 2023 – December 22, 2023
• Aguad Sunday Fete: December 17, 2023
• Tunes on the Tides: December 21, 2023
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