Goa’s Historic ‘Opinion Poll’ Coming Soon to the Silver Screen
Panaji :
In a groundbreaking initiative, the historic ‘Opinion Poll’ of 16 January 1967, the first and only of its kind in India, will be brought to the silver screen. Following Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule, the central government took the unprecedented step of conducting the ‘Opinion Poll’ or ‘Sarvamat Kaul’ to decide whether Goa should remain independent or merge with Maharashtra. This pivotal moment in Goa’s history will be explored in the upcoming docu-fiction ’16 Janer’, the first part of the ‘Goa’s Oral History’ project launched by Goa’s Sahit Studio production house.
Our small state of Goa has a vast history of struggles that have shaped its strong identity, making it unique among other states in India. Today’s Goa is the result of these hard-fought battles and continues to stand on the foundations built by those who fought for it. However, it is concerning that the stories of Goa’s past struggles have not been fully passed on to the younger generation within Goa or the wider world. In light of the media revolution, we have recognized the need to share Goa’s story globally, which led to the launch of the ‘Goa Oral History’ initiative. The first chapter of this journey, focused on the historical ‘Opinion Poll,’ is now being brought to life through this project, said Kishor Arjun, researcher, writer, and director of the project.
The docu-fiction ’16 Janer’ will explore the developments that followed the ‘Opinion Poll,’ examining how the decision to maintain Goa’s independent identity has impacted the state and its people over time. The project includes in-depth interviews with scholars and individuals who played an active role in the struggle, along with historical documentation and key global references. Kishor Arjun confirmed that the documentary will be completed soon and submitted to various international film festivals for broader recognition.
Appeal for Rare Photographs and Documents:
This documentary, created through crowdfunding and public collaboration, has already gathered rare photographs and documents from various individuals, books, libraries, and online sources. However, we believe that there may still be individuals with additional information, photographs, or documents that could further enrich this project. Therefore, we urge the people of Goa to contribute by sharing any such materials at edit.sahit@gmail.com. Rashmi Narse and Sunanda Kaluskar of Sahit Studio have also expressed increased confidence in this initiative, noting that several Konkani short films produced by Sahit Studio have earned recognition at both national and international levels.