Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has suddenly developed a profound interest in digging up Goa’s history. On Monday, while asserting that Chhatrapati Shivaji protected Hindu culture in Goa despite the 450 years of Portuguese rule, Sawant finds something amiss that he wants to approach the Ministry of External Affairs to get back all Goa-related documents from Portugal “and put history in the right perspective”.
The chief minister was speaking at a function organised by the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology at Betul Fort commemorating the coronation of Shivaji. It comes as a surprise that after 60 years of liberation there is a sense of unfulfillment in Shivaji's history vis-a-vis Goa. It baffles the mind why there is a sudden need to revisit history and go back in time across centuries. What is the motive of such an exercise, and what is the government trying to achieve by digging into the past?
Lest we forget, on May 17, 2017, Portugal handed over 62 volumes of documents known as ‘Moncoes do Reino’ to the National Archives of India. These were part of the 456 volumes that cover the period from 1568 to 1914 and are the largest collection in the State archives and include direct correspondence between Lisbon and Goa. What is intriguing is the fact that the government is trying to seek more documents without a firm knowledge of what information is missing out. The sad irony is that while there is this frantic effort to obtain documents for some queer reasons, the State has shown utter disregard for the invaluable documents housed at the Central Library in the capital city and has allowed them to be exposed to degradation.
At a time when the nation is torn apart in communal strife, and with Goa lately feeling the shivers of a communal agenda playing out, these kinds of outreaches can only help polarise people. Goans in recent times have been a witness to discourses that are stoking religious sentiments. Going that extra mile to rebuild temples demolished during the Portuguese rule, ordering a crackdown on religious conversions, exploring the possibility of finding ‘Shivlings’ in the State, and now a trip to Portugal to re-establish Goa’s history are indications that the government is indeed shifting gears to keep pace with the narrative adopted by the other BJP-ruled States.
The tone of the recent developments does not bode well for Goa. Shivaji has duly established his legacy as an iconic Maratha warrior and earned his place in the history of the State. There is no need to go to Portugal to reaffirm his role and bring in new perspectives, especially at a time when there is a communal unease simmering in the background.
It’s time the government of the day focuses more on governance rather than dwelling on superfluous debates which are veering around religion. Stop pursuing a central agenda that doesn't fit into the Goa framework. The State has monumental issues that need attention and priority, and such talk will take us nowhere. Issues like high inflation and joblessness are taking a huge toll on common citizens, which is why the welfare of the people of Goa should be on top of Sawant’s mind at all times.
