A Voice for Liberty: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes

One of Goa’s brightest luminaries, Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, was a true polymath—parliamentarian, economist, physician, philosopher, historian, novelist, and social reformer. He stands as a towering figure not only in Goan history but also in the intellectual landscape of the 19th century.

Born in Navelim, Salcete, Goa, on May 31, 1829—the same date on which another iconic Goan, Abbé Faria, was born decades earlier—Francisco Luis Gomes seemed destined for greatness. The son of Dr. Francisco Salvador Gomes and Deodata Furtado, he began his academic journey at the Escola Médico–Cirúrgica de Goa and rose to become its Chief Surgeon—an extraordinary achievement at a young age.

Champion of Liberty and Justice
Medicine was just one facet of his brilliance. In 1861, at only 32, Dr. Gomes was elected to the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon, representing Goa. A member of the liberal party Partido Regenador and deeply inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, he quickly made his mark with his eloquence, sharp intellect, and unwavering commitment to justice.

During his nine-year tenure, he strongly opposed the exploitation of Portuguese colonies, especially Goa. He called for the abolition of unjust taxes, such as those on toddy tappers, and famously declined offers to join the Portuguese Cabinet—not once, but three times—to preserve his independence and integrity.

His advocacy extended beyond Parliament. A prolific writer and thinker, Dr. Gomes was fluent in Konkani, Portuguese, French, English, Latin, Italian, Spanish, and Marathi. His seminal 1862 work, A Liberdade da Terra (The Freedom of the Land), a critique of colonial economic policies, is still hailed as a landmark in political economy.

Os Brâmanes: A Visionary Voice for India
One of his most notable contributions to literature and Indian political thought was the 1866 novel Os Brâmanes (The Brahmins), which boldly exposed caste injustice and colonial hypocrisy. The novel portrayed two faces of Brahminism—one imposed by colonial rule and the other rooted in Indian society. Long before the founding of the Indian National Congress, Dr. Gomes was already advocating self-governance and Indian nationalism.

He wrote prophetically:
“It is said that the law of Christ governs European civilization. That is a lie. It shines on its surface, but does not penetrate to its entrails.”

Liberty and Light for India!
A fierce nationalist and rare exemplar of political integrity, Dr. Gomes proudly identified with India’s cultural and intellectual heritage. In a letter to his friend, French poet-politician Lamartine, he wrote of his homeland—the birthplace of the Mahabharata and the game of chess. He ended with a powerful call:
“I ask for India liberty and light!”

International Recognition and Enduring Legacy
Dr. Gomes’s intellect earned acclaim far beyond Goa and Portugal. He was honoured by the Society of Economists of Paris as an Associate Member, a rare honour which he shared with four other eminent personages. He was also granted a special audience with Napoleon III, and at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867, was publicly celebrated by Europe’s leading intellectuals.

Tragically, his life was cut short. Stricken by a debilitating illness, he had hoped to spend his final days in Goa. But on September 30, 1869, he died aboard the S.S. Messalis and was buried at sea. He was just 40 years old.

Reflecting on his legacy, Portuguese writer Júlio Dantas wrote:
“The thinkers or the wise live beyond their death. Theirs is an eternal youth, like trees forever blossoming. I wish to pay my respects to the thinker in him, as well as to the brilliance and immortality in the eternal youth of knowledge.”

And indeed, his legacy endures. In a powerful gesture of recognition, the Portuguese government—whose very policies he had so courageously opposed—erected a life-size bronze statue in his honour. Inaugurated on December 23, 1931, during the centenary of his birth, the statue stands in a garden named after him in Campal, Panjim, opposite the Kala Academy.

Across Goa, his memory lives on. In Margao, a bust near the Comunidade Building, the road leading to the railway station, and the bridge connecting Margao and Navelim all bear his name. In his native Navelim, the district library is named in his honour, and a bust at Rosary High School also commemorates his contributions.

These memorials stand as silent sentinels to a man whose voice once roared in Europe’s highest halls of power.

A Man for All Time
Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes was not only a man of rare intellect but also a soul of deep conviction and compassion. He remains a symbol of integrity, enlightenment, and nationalism—a man who stood against injustice, whether in Lisbon or in Goa, and who dreamed of a free and enlightened India.

As historian Dr. George M. Moraes aptly stated during the centenary commemoration of his death:
“He was the greatest Goan that has ever lived.”

More info at:
https://en.wikipedia.org//Francisco-Luis-Gomes

Bust next to Comunidade building

Ruins of the original bust and pedestal that was broken when a vehicle hit it in the 1980’s.
I wonder if anyone knows the importance of these stones???
Location: Lohia Maidan