MAPUSA
The private member’s resolution demanding the introduction of “The Chieftains of Cuncolim” in the school and college curriculum was unanimously passed albeit with a small correction, in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The resolution moved by Cuncolim’s Congress MLA, Yuri Alemao received an overwhelming response from members across the political spectrum.
“We accept the private member’s resolution. The resolution is passed with correction. The line ‘strictly as historical facts without fanning xenophobia of any kind’ will be removed,” Sawant said.
He said the Cuncolim Revolt was historic as it had taken place even before the famous French revolution.
He said 16 persons had laid down their lives for the cause of ‘Dev, Desh and Dharma’ in the revolt.
“They fought against the Portuguese regime. We must all take inspiration from them. It should reflect in history books,” Sawant said.
He further said that there was no religion and caste involved in this as both Hindus and Christians were trustees in the Cuncolim Chieftain Memorial Trust.
The State government had already decided to celebrate July 15, 1583 (Cuncolim Revolt) as the National War Memorial Day.
In his resolution, the Cuncolim MLA recommended that the contents of “The Chieftains of Cuncolim” be introduced at the appropriate stage in the school and college curriculum.
“The Gaonkar’s of Cuncolim stood up to the colonial powers boycotting the colonial decrees and registered their protests by not paying any revenue to the government centuries before similar protests and boycotts got popularized as the 'non-cooperation movement',” Alemao said.
“These deeds of courage, valiant struggle and sacrifices of Goans, especially the people of Cuncolim, should be learnt and taught as part of Goa’s political struggle against colonial powers strictly as historical facts without fanning xenophobia of any kind,” he added in his resolution.
