Mohan Ranade

Mohan Ranade (Marathi: मोहन रानडे) is an Indian freedom fighter who activeley participated in Goa liberation movement . He was arrested by Portuguese police in 1955. Later he was incarcerated at the Fort of Caxias near Lisbon in Portugal. He was kept in solitary confinement for six years. After liberation of Goa by Indian government Ranade was finally released in January 1969 after 14 years of imprisonment.

Ranade was born in 1929 in Sangli in Maharashtra state in India . He was inspired by leaders like Ganesh Damodar Savarkar and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He is a qualified lawyer.

During Annadurai, the ex-CM of Tamil Nadu visit to Vatican City, he met the Pope during that time and requested him to release Ranade. After hearing that Annadurai have yet met Ranade once, Pope was astonished for his compassion and made Ranade's release. When Ranade was free, he came to chennai to see Annaduari, but ended in despair as Annadurai was dead some days before.

He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and with the Sangli Bhushan in 2006. Ranade was also awarded the Goa Puraskar in 1986 for his social work.

Ranade has authored two books on Goa Liberation Movement:

He now runs a charitable organisation in Pune that sponsors education of students from economically backward backgrounds. He was chairman of the Goa Red Cross for over five years.

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