Goa History:
Goa's history is full of tales of rival Indian empires
and colonial powers fighting for the control of this strategically
located port that gave access to sea routes, and its flourishing
trade. The ancient history of Goa can be traced back to the
3rd century bc when it was part of the Mauryan Empire. The Mauryan
influence waned after the death of Emperor Ashoka, and over
the next few centuries Goa saw many different rulers. It enjoyed
a period of relative peace and prosperity under the successive
rule of the Silharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyans of Kalyani.
The peace was shattered, however, when Goa fell to the Muslim
Sultanate of Delhi for the first time in 1312. But they were
forced to pull out in 1370 by the Vijayanagar rulers who held
on to Goa for nearly a hundred years and made it into an important
centre for trade, especially with the Arabs. In 1469, Goa was
conquered again, this time by the Bahmani Sultans of Gulbarga.
When this dynasty broke up, the Adil Shahis of Bijapur stepped
in and made Goa Velha (meaning Old Goa) their second capital.
The present Secretariat building in Panaji is a former Adil
Shahi palace, later taken over by the Portuguese Viceroys as
their official residence. In 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco
da Gama landed at Calicut (now known as Kozhikode), a few hundred
miles south of Goa. He was the first European to set foot in
India via a sea route, and established a small fortress in Cochin
(now Kochi). This was the time when Goa had become an important
centre for trade in horses imported from Persia and Arabia.
These horses were in demand from the warring rulers of Indian
empires. The portuguese wanted to establish a base in Goa to
rule over the Arabian Sea. They were keen to control the spice
route from the east and undermine the Arab monopoly of the spice
trade. They also wanted to spread Christianity.
Twelve years after Vasco da Gama anchored his ship at Calicut,
Portuguese admiral Afonso de Albuquerque defeated Goa's ruling
Bijapur Kings and set up base in what is today called Old Goa.
Within a few years they brought Salcete, Mormugao and Bardez
under their control. With Portugal's command of the seas and
its supremacy over trade routes, Goa became the jewel of its
eastern empire. By the end of the 16th Century, it was referred
to as 'Golden Goa'.
Another significant event in Goa's history was the arrival of the Basque missionary
Francis Xavier in 1542. He founded the Jesuit mission and conversions
to Christianity, started by the Franciscans, gathered pace.
So successful was the conversion drive that the then Pope raised
the status of Goa to an Episcopal and appointed a bishop. In
1757, the King of Portugal, D. Jose I, put his seal on a Royal
decree granting the rights of Portuguese citizenship and representation
to all subjects in the Portuguese Indies (Goa, Damao and Diu).
The enclaves of Goa, Damao, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli became
collectively known as the Estado da India Portuguese, and had
representation in the Portuguese Parliament. In 1787, Goa witnessed
the shortlived Pinto Revolt by Goan clergy who were dissatisfied
with the unequal status of Goans in the church hierarchy and
in government service. It's called Pinto Revolt because the
priests belonged to the extended Pinto clan. The plot, however,
was foiled. When India became independent in 1947, Goa continued
to be under Portuguese rule. The Portuguese refused to give
in to India's demands that the state, along with a few other
minor Portuguese holdings, be handed over to the newly independent
nation. On 17 December 1961, in an army operation called Vijay
(meaning Victory), Indian troops crossed into Goa. Forty-eight
hours later, on 19 December 1961, Goa became a territory of
the Republic of India and was granted statehood in 1987. Goa
celebrates its 'Liberation Day' on 19 December every year, which
is also a state holiday.
