Portuguese Colonial Act
Encyclopedia
In 1930 Dr. António de Oliveira Salazar
became a dictator of Portugal
. He was the architect of the first highly racist Portuguese Colonial Act, which discriminated against Portuguese India
, differentiating them from the metropolitan Portuguese people
. Because of this act the Portuguese Indians became a sort of substandard citizens, losing a great deal of benefits. These include free trips to Portugal
for rest and recreation
, their allowances became lower than those of the white officials, and other facilities that the white Portuguese had overseas were not available to Portuguese Indians.
This prejudiced Portuguese Colonial Act of 1930 was repealed only in 1950, in part thanks to the contribution of Dr. Froilano de Mello
. He was an exceptional Goan Catholic doctor and also an independent member of parliament
in Lisbon
. He represented Goa in the Assembly of the Republic
. He unhesitatingly and fearlessly fought for the rights of Portuguese Indians. De Mello was so successful that from 1950, Goans regained their status and were treated again in equal terms just like any other white Portuguese citizens from the metropolis.
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
became a dictator of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He was the architect of the first highly racist Portuguese Colonial Act, which discriminated against Portuguese India
Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
, differentiating them from the metropolitan Portuguese people
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
. Because of this act the Portuguese Indians became a sort of substandard citizens, losing a great deal of benefits. These include free trips to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
for rest and recreation
R&R (military)
R&R, military slang for rest and recuperation , is a term used for the free time of a soldier in the US military or International UN staff serving in non-family duty stations. R&R includes various forms, including mail, sports, film screenings, using the services of prostitutes and leave time...
, their allowances became lower than those of the white officials, and other facilities that the white Portuguese had overseas were not available to Portuguese Indians.
This prejudiced Portuguese Colonial Act of 1930 was repealed only in 1950, in part thanks to the contribution of Dr. Froilano de Mello
Froilano de Mello
Froilano de Mello was an Indo-Portuguese microbiologist, medical scientist, professor, author and an independent MP in the Portuguese parliament....
. He was an exceptional Goan Catholic doctor and also an independent member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. He represented Goa in the Assembly of the Republic
Assembly of the Republic
The Assembly of the Republic is the Portuguese parliament. It is located in a historical building in Lisbon, referred to as Palácio de São Bento, the site of an old Benedictine monastery...
. He unhesitatingly and fearlessly fought for the rights of Portuguese Indians. De Mello was so successful that from 1950, Goans regained their status and were treated again in equal terms just like any other white Portuguese citizens from the metropolis.
See also
- António de Oliveira SalazarAntónio de Oliveira SalazarAntónio de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
- Portuguese IndiaPortuguese IndiaThe Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
- Portuguese peoplePortuguese peopleThe Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....