Libia Lobo Sardesai
A Goan freedom fighter whose underground radio announced Goa's liberation in 1961, and Goa's first woman lawyer, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
On 19 December 1961, it was Libia Lobo Sardesai’s voice that told the people of Goa they were free. In 2025, at the age of 100, she was named for the Padma Shri in the field of social work, from Goa [1].
Student and broadcaster
Libia Lobo was born on 25 May 1924 in Socorro, Porvorim [2]. She studied in Bombay, graduating in English from Siddharth College, and as a student was secretary of the Goan Youth League, which worked for Goa’s freedom [2]. She earned a law degree in 1955 while working for All India Radio in Bombay [2].
The Voice of Freedom
After her law studies, she left All India Radio to join the underground movement to free Goa from Portuguese rule [2]. From 1955 to 1961 she helped run The Voice of Freedom, a secret radio station that broadcast from the forests to listeners in Goa, with Vaman Sardesai [2]. Its last broadcast, made from an Indian Air Force plane, announced Goa’s liberation on 19 December 1961 [2].
Many firsts
In 1962 she became Goa’s first director of tourism, helping put Goa on the tourist map [2]. In 1968 she became the first woman lawyer to practise in Goa’s courts [2]. In 1973 she founded Goa’s women’s co-operative bank, run entirely by women, and in 1986 a college of home science [2].
On her 100th birthday, the Indian Army and Navy honoured her for her part in Goa’s liberation [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for Libia Lobo Sardesai — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
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