# Laxmikant Bhembre

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.

## Career
### Teaching career

Bhembre was a teacher who taught at Union High School and Popular High School in Margao.

### 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).
In August 1946, Bhembre chaired a significant meeting in 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.

### 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.
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.
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.

### 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.

### 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.

## Personal life

Poet and politician Uday Bhembre is his son.

## 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.

## Death

Bhembre died on 1 September 1985.