Source: Flickr
Tucked away in the middle of the massive coast of India, lies the scenic and beautiful state of Goa. It is a land of boundless beauty and for many the crown and epitome of Indian diversified beauty. The small lanes of Goa, all up till the massive expanses of white beaches, tell many stories of celebration and cruelty, traditions and tragedy.
Among these many stories lies the story of Goan Liberation, which is celebrated on the 19th of December, and the Goa Revolution Day which is celebrated on the 18th of June. These days hold great prominence for Goans and indeed the whole nation.
This is the story of pride, valour, courage and most importantly of the urge to be from tyranny, fear and occupation. But, before we begin our story of unparalleled bravery, let us first get to know the history of the beautiful land of Goa.
The Portuguese Conquest
It is a widely known fact that India was the crown in the global trading lanes of the world. In the 15th century, India was the place every empire wanted to have trading relations, primarily due to the immense wealth centred in India.
This golden trade route was threatened when the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II, blocked the routes. This prompted the Europeans to discover a new sea route to India, circumventing Africa. It was in this spirit that Vasco da Gama reached the shores of Calicut in the year 1499.
The commodities he took from India to Europe fetched him a profit 60 times the initial cost of this venture. The Portuguese East India Company closely followed suit to establish trading centres along the western coast of India, to control the high seas and consequently the trading routes leading to India.
They brought in modern warfare technology, printing press machinery and clocks. Black Pepper, Sapota, Corn, Potato, Sweet Potato and many more, Mediterranean and Latin American crops followed in. But all was not sunny during the rule of the Portuguese, a dark spell was awaiting the Portuguese Indian Empire capital Goa.
The Goa Inquisition
But the unimagined pain and struggle for the people of Goa had just started. What they had to live through in the coming few centuries can be at best described as a deadly nightmare. The stories of the Goa Inquisition defies the extent of hell that humanity can create on this planet. It all started with an innate hatred for those different from the Portuguese.
The Hindus and the Muslims were targeted by the Jesuits from Portugal, and their focused policies made it almost next to impossible for them to lead peaceful life. St. Francis Xavier led this movement, in which temples after temples, mosques after mosques were razed down, in a selfish motive, beyond even the basic human love for each other.
So impactful was the scar of this event that it left even an indelible mark on the culture of Goa. Folk songs today celebrated as cheerful renditions of a paradise, have a dark history. Anyone who has visited Goa can easily recall the intoxicating humming of 'Hand Saiba Poltodi Vetam', which translates to 'I want to cross the river'.
The dark story behind the song finds its origin in colonial Goa, where people would sell their gold just to cross the river to move out of the Portuguese Goa, to preserve their culture and participate in their traditional ceremonies, which were considered a terrible crime, punishable with even death.
The Portuguese did not leave India until 1961 when police action was taken by the Indian administration to rout out the Portuguese. There was a massive clampdown on freedom of speech and expression, pushing down every attempt to dissent against the Portuguese.
But in the end, it was the will and power of the Indian freedom fighters which prevailed even over the darkest force of oppression.
The Buried and Forgotten History
There is indeed no doubt that the story of Goa Liberation is of unbounded valour, but for reasons beyond understanding, intentionally or otherwise, the story has never been told in the way it deserves. The story of an unequal fight against fascism and hate could never be more heart-wrenching.
It stands as an epitome of how, even when every single odd is against you, and the mightiest of the forces oppress you, you can still fight and in the end emerge victorious. As intolerably painful the Goa Inquisition was, sadly it had been forgotten away. The very fact that people now sing 'Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam', as a cheerful song, with total disregard to the history associated with it, is a misfortune for all of us.
Our forefathers deserve the respect and the credit for the momentous feat they achieved in Goa, and the least we can do is to be aware of the unfathomable pain they went through, the inimitable sacrifice they gave and foremost, their singular ultimate love for the motherland.
Written by - Piyush Pandey
Edited by - Adrija Saha
0 Comments