Roque Santana Fernandes

Roque Santana Fernandes
Portrait of Fernandes
Member of Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly
In office
1967  5 January 1977
Preceded bySebastiao Mazarelo
Succeeded byFerdino Rebello
ConstituencyCuncolim
Majority
  • 3,774 (43.62%)
  • 5,337 (58.44%)
Personal details
Born
Roque Santana Joao Fernandes

(1927-03-15)15 March 1927
Velim, Goa, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire (now in India)
Died12 January 2007(2007-01-12) (aged 79)
Brookdale Hospital, Brooklyn, U.S
Political partyIndependent (1989–2007)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseEmerita Barreto
Children4
Alma materSt. Anthony's High School
Occupation
  • Politician
  • freedom fighter
Known forIntroduction of Goan democracy
Committees
  • Freedom Fighter's Rehabilitation Board
  • Government Assurances
  • Privileges
  • Estimates

Roque Santana Joao Fernandes (15 March 1927 – 12 January 2007) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who was a former member of the Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1977, representing the Cuncolim Assembly constituency. He is popularly known as the "Father of Goan Democracy" and was responsible for the introduction of democracy by objecting to the Lt. Governor's nomination through his satyagraha. He was one of the prominent people that contributed to Goa's freedom struggle.