EulaMatos4236 at 21:46, 13 January 2026

2026-01-13T21:46:02Z

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{{short description|Indian writer and activist (1963–1986)}}
{{distinguish|Floriano Vanzo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Floriano Vaz
| birth_name = Floriano Vas
| image = Floriano Vaz.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Vaz around the 1980s
| death_cause = [[Murder]] (gunshot wound to the stomach)
| birth_place = [[Gogol, Goa]], India
| known_for = First martyr of the [[Konkani language agitation]]
| monuments = [[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] at Floriano Vaz Circle, [[Margao]]
| death_place = Gogol, Goa, India
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer|[[activist]]}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|9|8|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|12|20|1963|9|8|df=y}}
| movement = Konkani language agitation
}}

'''Floriano Vaz''' ([[né]] '''Vas'''; 8 September 1963 – 20 December 1986) was an Indian writer and activist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=Margao Municipality to name Road in the name of Manohar Parrikar |url=https://goanewshub.com/margao-municipality-to-name-road-in-the-name-of-manohar-parrikar/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was the first [[martyr]] of the [[scheduled tribe]] community who fought for the [[Languages with official status in India|official status]] of the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] language during the [[Konkani language agitation]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Konkani martyr remembered on death anniversary |url=https://www.thegoan.net//konkani-martyr-remembered-on-death-anniversary/8078.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Relatives, well-wishers remember Floriano Vaz on birth anniversary |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Relatives-wellwishers-remember-Floriano-Vaz-on-birth-anniversary/179812 |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=[Goanet] Remembering the sacrifice of Floriano Vaz for Konkani. |url=https://goanet.goanet.narkive.com/fTXyAbAO/remembering-the-sacrifice-of-floriano-vaz-for-konkani |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=goanet.goanet.narkive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gomes |first=Olivinho |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZxjAAAAMAAJ&q=floriano+vaz |title=Old Konkani language and literature: the Portuguese role |date=1999 |publisher=Konkani Sorospot Prakashan |language=mr}}</ref>

==Early and personal life==
Floriano Vas was born on 8 September 1963 in [[Gogol, Goa]] to Inacio Vas and Luizinha Araujo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2006 |title=Registo De Nascimento |url=https://goaonline.gov.in/Appln/UIL/BirthDeathCertificate_af?__Key=&_Mode=B&__cscKey= |access-date=10 August 2023 |website=Goa Online |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810131321/https://goaonline.gov.in/HomePage |url-status=live }}</ref> He belonged to the [[scheduled tribe]] community and had a brother and a sister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Herald saw, reported, analysed and opinionated on in last four decades |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/What-Herald-saw-reported-analysed-and-opinionated-on-in-last-four-decades/194949 |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref>

==Death==
On 20 December 1986, a heated argument took place between Sudin Bhagvanta Naique, a [[businessman]] and son of a prominent industrialist from [[Comba, Goa|Comba]], and Vaz, who was his ex-employee. Vaz and his supporters had stopped Naique's car from moving forward by blocking the road with [[boulders]].<ref name=":3" /> At 1:20 pm, Rajaram G. Pawar,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Floriano Vaz, Innocent Martyr?:Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr |url=https://www.tskk.org/content_disp.php?id=23 |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=www.tskk.org |archive-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022115325/https://www.tskk.org/content_disp.php?id=23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a [[head constable]] of the [[Gujarat]] State Reserve (SRP), at the behest of Naique, shot Vaz, aged 23 with a [[.303 British|303 rifle]] near his residence at [[Gogol, Goa|Gogol]].

At 4:00 pm, Vaz died while protecting himself from [[haemorrhage]] and shock from the [[gunshot wound]]. The rest of his six accomplices were killed at Neura, [[Tiswadi]]. Later, a [[memorial]] was installed in their honour at the facade of the St. Lawrence Church at [[Agaçaim]], Goa.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Cardozo |first=Tomazinho |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJxKAQAAIAAJ&q=floriano+vaz |title=My Journey |date=2007 |publisher=Ormor Prakaxon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Naik |first=Datta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=seEyAAAAIAAJ&q=floriano+vaz |title=Laying the Ground for Communal Riots--? |date=1987 |publisher=Saungadi Prakashan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gomes |first=Olivinho |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rl9uAAAAMAAJ&q=floriano+vaz |title=Goa |date=2004 |publisher=National Book Trust, India |isbn=978-81-237-4139-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The long road from 1961 to 2020 |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/The-long-road-from-1961-to-2020/168883 |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref>

The news was first declared by [[Mark Tully]], the then [[BBC]] [[New Delhi]] Bureau Chief, at around 5:00 pm, before any local news agencies reported it. This declaration sparked a riot in [[Margao]], with people claiming that the news was connected to the [[Konkani language agitation]], making it an obvious act.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=[Goanet] Martyr Memorial eludes - late Master Floriano Vaz & Konkani Roman |url=http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-December/117083.html |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=lists.goanet.org}}</ref>

==Legacy==
A [[roundabout]] has been named in Vaz's honour known as the Floriano Vaz Circle wherein the [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] of Vaz was constructed by former Goa Chief minister, [[Churchill Alemao]] at [[Gogol, Goa|Gogol]] traffic junction in [[Margao]].<ref name=":1" />

A ''[[tiatr]]'' was produced by Menino de Bandar in honour of Vaz, titled "''Floriano Vaz - Poilo Matir"'' ({{translation|Floriano Vaz - First Martyr}}). It included noted cast like [[Alfred Rose (singer)|Alfred Rose]], [[Mario Menezes]] and [[M. Boyer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A true friendship in the world of tiatr |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Voice-Of-Tiatr/A-true-friendship-in-the-world-of-tiatr-/95892 |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref>

In December 2011, the Floriano Vaz recreation complex was reportedly under construction at Chandravaddo, [[Fatorda]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2011 |title=1,000 pirated Konkani CDs seized at Mapusa |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/1000-pirated-konkani-cds-seized-at-mapusa/articleshow/11186541.cms |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
===1987 case study===
A [[case study]] was done a year later after Vaz's death, in 1987, by Lionel Messias. This was published in the Gomantak Times Weekender on 24 December 2006. As per this investigation, the death of Vaz was a "cold blooded murder" and attempts were made to close the case. Messias stated that the day Vaz was murdered, around noon, Jose Francisco Gomes, a local of the [[Gogol, Goa|Gogol]] neighbourhood, heard a single gunshot and ran towards the three houses owned by the [[Vaz (surname)|Vaz]] clan. Gomes witnessed Vaz fallen on the ground, injured with a stomach wound. He also noticed a [[Fiat]] car, possibly the [[Premier Padmini]] driven by Naique, parked besides the SRP van.<ref name=":4" />

Hours after Vaz's death, the [[Margao]] police station issued two official versions describing the incident. The first instance said that Vaz along with his three accomplices had restrained [[sub-inspector]] Narayan K Yetale of the [[Goa Police]] and had made attempts to seize Yetale's [[service revolver]], after which the accompanying SRP took Vaz down. The second version claimed that a violent crowd of around 400-500 had attacked the police who in [[self defence]] shot Vaz.<ref name=":4" />

Messias further states that the "whitewash" was unmethodical to an extent that Vaz along with the 400-500 violent mob were charged under Cr. No. 444/86 u/s 341, 143, 147, 148, 323, 353, 332, 307 of the [[Indian Penal Code|IPC]] r/w 149 IPC for assaulting the police, setting up the blockade and grabbing service weapons. As per the scrutiny of the ''panchanama'' conducted at the hospital around 4:00–4:30 pm IST, stated that no external injuries were found. Further, they mentioned, "Vaz's body was turned and except the bandaged area where he was shot, no other injuries were visible".<ref name=":4" />

A source later revealed that no ''panchanama'' was done. Instead, the deputy collector and station police inspector were called by the inspector to witness Vaz's injuries. The inspection began before and after the [[post mortem]]. Messias reported that Vaz's body bore 15 marks caused by a dull weapon, probably a police ''[[Baton (law enforcement)|lathi]]''. The longest mark was 23.5×3 cms which was underneath the right [[antebrachium]], which explained the defensive posture of Vaz while shielding himself. There were also red swellings on both forearms, which were 3–21cms long, showing signs that Vaz was brutally beaten.<ref name=":4" />

The police refused to disclose the post mortem reports. Vaz's family vowed that prior to the latter's death, Naique had promised to return with the police and teach Vaz a lesson. Naique had driven to the station and returned with 22 police personnel. This was later confirmed by police. It is also believed that an [[Assistant sub-inspector of police|ASI]], along with two policemen, had arrived at the road blockade in Naique's car.<ref name=":4" />

The Vaz family had stated that the police arrived on the scene and questioned about Vaz at the first two houses owned by the clan. Upon discovering him in the third house, they dragged him out from the [[outhouse]] and assaulted him. His younger sister had pleaded with the ASI to arrest him instead but she was dragged away from Vaz. He was then shot at [[point blank range]] while defending himself, possibly with a [[melee]] (a protective helmet) which had fallen on the ground.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Re: [Goanet] Floriano was a denationalised Goan who gave his life for Bharati Bhasha |url=https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg77471.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.mail-archive.com}}</ref>

The accompanying ASI then faked an injury, but refused X-ray when he was admitted at a local government hospital. He later yielded once the [[Medical officer of health|medical officer]] insisted. The prevailing night of Vaz's death, a [[fishing net]] factory owned by the Naique family was set on fire. The next day, Bhagvanta Naique offered MLAs, [[Uday Bhembre]] and [[Luizinho Faleiro]] a sum of amount {{INRConvert|20|k|year=1986}} as compensation to the Vaz family. The same evening, another fishing net factory the family owned was destroyed, which forced the Naiques to stay at home.<ref name=":4" />

==Vandalism, tributes and demands==
On 16 September 2012, Vaz's bust was vandalized by unknown individuals, the [[Dalgado Konknni Akademi]] expressed their shock and distress over the matter and asked the state government to take strict action on those who were responsible and rebuild the sculpture as fast as possible.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2012 |title=DKA shocked over damage to Vaz statue |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/dka-shocked-over-damage-to-vaz-statue/articleshow/16415824.cms |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

On 21 December 2015, at Vaz's 29th [[death anniversary]], his brother, several well wishers and relatives paid floral tributes to the bust at [[Gogol, Goa|Gogol]] traffic junction. The [[scheduled tribe]] association president, Camilo Barretto<ref>{{Cite web |title=#GOA365 VIDEO: Floriano Vaz Death anniversary observed |url=https://www.goa365.tv/general/N/floriano-vaz-death-anniversary-observed-/www.goa365.tv/general/N/floriano-vaz-death-anniversary-observed-/05548.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Goa365 |language=en}}</ref> demanded immediate resignation of then [[Bicholim Assembly constituency|Bicholim]] [[M.L.A]], [[Naresh Sawal]] from the [[Goa Legislative Assembly]] and appealed that he may migrate to [[Maharashtra]] for demanding equal official status for the [[Marathi language]].<ref name=":2" /> Barretto further demanded that the [[Government of Goa]] should provide jobs to Vaz's family, he also stated that many politicians in the past had made promises of providing jobs to the family and restoration of Vaz's house but till date none was fulfilled.<ref name=":2" />

On 9 September 2021, at Vaz's 58th [[birth anniversary]], Barretto and the [[Councilors]] of [[Margao]] demanded that for his contributions to the [[Konkani language]], Vaz should be remembered officially at government level. Barretto further added, Vaz is an inspiration to the scheduled tribe community (ST) and will make sure that justice is served to the ST community in all fronts.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://mymargao.barretomiranda.com/floriano-vaz/ Floriano Vaz by Miranda Barreto]
* [http://tiatr.in/tiart/florian-vaz-poilo-martir/ Floriano Vaz - Poilo Matir]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaz, Floriano}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Margao]]
[[Category:Writers from South Goa district]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Goa]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in India]]
[[Category:Activists from Goa]]

Floriano Vaz - Revision history

EulaMatos4236 at 21:46, 13 January 2026