DeangeloSchwing at 16:24, 23 April 2026

2026-04-23T16:24:09Z

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{{Short description|Indian independence activist (1906 – 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laxmikant Bhembre
| image = Laxmikant Bhembre.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Portrait of Laxmikant Bhembre
| birth_name = Laxmikant Venkatesh Prabhu Bhembre
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|8|2|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|9|1|1906|8|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Rivona]], [[Sanguem taluka]], [[Portuguese Goa]]
| death_place =
| other_names = Ekalavya
| spouse =
| children = [[Uday Bhembre]]
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for =
| movement = [[Goa Liberation Movement]]
| alma_mater =
| notable_works =
| awards =
}}
'''Laxmikant Venkatesh Prabhu Bhembre''' (2 August 1906 – 1 September 1985) was an Indian freedom fighter and teacher. He was a member of the Sanghatna Samiti, which was renamed as Gomantak Congress.

==Early life==
Laxmikant Venkatesh Prabhu Bhembre was born on 2 August 1906 at [[Rivona]], [[Sanguem taluka]], [[Portuguese Goa]] to Venkatesh Anant Prabhu Bhembre. He completed his third year of [[Lyceum]], matriculation government service examination and Sanad for legal practice.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86">{{Cite book |last=Shirodkar |first=Pandurang Purushottam |author-link=Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISScyAEACAAJ |title=Who's Who of Freedom Fighters, Goa, Daman, and Diu |date=1986 |publisher=Goa Gazetteer Department, Government of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu |volume=1 |pages=25–26}}</ref>

==Career==

=== Teaching career ===
Bhembre was a teacher who taught at Union High School and Popular High School in [[Margao]].<ref name="VazEminentGoans">{{Cite book |last=Vaz |first=J. Clement |author-link=J. Clement Vaz |url=https://archive.org/details/profilesofeminen0000vazj/ |title=Profiles of eminent Goans, past and present |date=1997 |publisher=Concept Pub. Co. |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-81-7022-619-2 |location=New Delhi |page=286}}</ref>
===Early political activities===
Bhembre was a leading member of the political organisation, Sanghatna Samiti, that was later renamed as the Gomantak Congress (i.e. Goa Congress). This group worked in secret to create awareness about Goa's freedom, before the unification of the National Congress Goa (NCG).<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

In August 1946, Bhembre chaired a significant meeting in [[Londa, Karnataka|Londa]], which led to the establishment of the National Congress of Goa (NCG). He was a founding member of its executive committee and took part in the Satyagraha campaign in Margao. His involvement in these activities led to his arrest and trial under Portuguese rule. In October 1946, he was sentenced to a four-year prison term and was subsequently deported to Portugal.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

===Imprisonment in Portugal===
Upon his arrival in Lisbon in January 1947, Bhembre was incarcerated at Peniche Fort along with other political detainees. During his imprisonment, he protested the lack of separation between political and non-political prisoners, including participating in a hunger strike. These efforts resulted in adjustments to the Portuguese prison policies.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

While at Peniche jail, he and the other freedom fighters, [[Rama Hegde]], [[Purushottam Kakodkar]], [[José Inácio Candido de Loyola]] and [[T. B. Cunha]], hosted the newlywed [[Pundalik Gaitonde]] and [[Edila Gaitonde]] for their honeymoon. These prisoners organised a celebration in honour of Pundalik and Edila. They hosted a meal for the newlyweds.<ref name="Jeevanrekha09">{{cite book|title=डॉ. पुंडलिक गायतोंडे: जीवनरेखा |trans-title = Dr. Pundalik Gaitonde: Jeevanrekha|editor-first=Somnath |editor-last=Komarpant |date=April 2009 |publisher= Shivanand Gaitonde, Sateri Prakashan |location=Pune |language=mr}}</ref><ref name="FaleiroGoa1961">{{Cite book |last=Faleiro |first=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYLyEAAAQBAJ |title=Goa, 1961: The Complete Story of Nationalism and Integration |date=2023-07-24 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5708-175-7 |pages=12-13, 22-23, 26, 82-83, 293 |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref>

After his release in October 1950, he remained under police surveillance in Lisbon, as the Portuguese authorities did not permit his return to Goa. This surveillance continued until December 1961.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

===Life in Exile===
While living in Portugal, Bhembre joined the [[Theosophical Society]] and became active in cultural and religious discussions. He delivered speeches on the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and wrote columns for various publications, including ''Dudhasagar'' (Bombay) and ''Navjeevan'' (Belgaum), using the pen name Ekalavya.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

=== Post-Liberation of Goa ===
After Goa's liberation, Bhembre was briefly imprisoned from December 1961 to April 1962. Upon his release, he returned to Goa in May 1962, where he continued his intellectual and literary career. He wrote a Marathi book on the cultural and religious influence of the Portuguese rule in Goa, titled, ''Purutgali Rajvaticpurviche Govyatil Dharmik Vangmay''.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

==Personal life==
Poet and politician [[Uday Bhembre]] is his son.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-14 |title=Uday Bhembre's Faith on Fire |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/uday-bhembre%E2%80%99s-faith-on-fire/207518 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Herald Goa}}</ref>

== Awards and accolades ==
Bhembre received recognition for his contributions, including a Tamrapatra Award from the Indian government. He was also honored by the governments of Goa, Daman, and Diu for his role in the freedom movement. He has also been acknowledged by various cultural and literary organizations for his contributions.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

==Death==
Bhembre died on 1 September 1985.<ref name="ShirodkarWho86" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhembre, Laxmikant}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:People from South Goa district]]
[[Category:Goa liberation activists]]
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]

Laxmikant Bhembre - Revision history

DeangeloSchwing at 16:24, 23 April 2026