PANAJI
Amidst the ongoing debate on the restoration of temples demolished by the Portuguese and the eradication of Portuguese influences from Goa, heritage defenders and dedicated activists have suggested a reflection to gain further perspective on the issue.
These experts also insist that the matter should not be politicised to create vote banks but instead focus on upholding the legacy left by Goa's freedom fighters.
“It is crucial that we safeguard our Goan culture and identity for future generations instead of turning these issues into political tools for personal gain. Such actions would only deteriorate the essence of being Goan. We must carry forward the ideals of our mentors who fought for our freedom,” Rajendra Kerkar, an environmentalist and heritage enthusiast, said while speaking to The Goan.
Another heritage enthusiast, Sanjeev Sardesai agrees while adding that he partially supports Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's statement.
“I don't completely agree with the Chief Minister's remark. When we speak about the Portuguese, it is true that there were many extremely cruel incidents by coteries but we must accept that there were also some very good interventions. The Inquisition and the destruction of temples were terrible events, but it’s better not to aggravate those aspects, as people from across the Goan borders may not be able to grasp them, the way we Goans do,” he explained.
Architectural historian Amita Kanekar stated that talking of wiping out signs of the Portuguese and rebuilding destroyed temples, is an indirect way of targeting Catholicism and the Catholic community. “Sawant has a record now for making communal statements, where he incites hatred between communities, especially before elections,” she stated.
Muslims were Portuguese' enemies,
Hindus invited them for trade
Sanjeev Sardesai emphasised the importance of understanding Goa’s unique history to comprehend the situation, recalling that when the Portuguese arrived in Goa, it was the Muslims who were their sworn enemies and the dominant force on the battlefield. Whereas, the Hindus were a new community for the Portuguese, although they came here at the invitation of the Hindu envoys.
“However, the administrative personnel who directly served the King seemed good, but there were others who arrived under innumerable religious orders (also under the king). It was this second wave of people who acted as a virus, seeking to ‘harvest souls’, and started with the sole mission of converting people. The first category however was invited with an offer of monopolistic trade,” he stated.
Religious conversion and the destruction of temples are at the heart of the matter, and Kerkar revealed that in the old conquest areas, over 300 temples, both large and small, were destroyed, with a majority of them located on Divar Island.
The Dark period!
Although the Portuguese presence in Goa lasted for over 450 years, there are two distinct periods. “Only the 16th and 17th centuries were the dark periods when numerous temples were destroyed. It was horrific,” asserted Kerkar.
Historians explained that the Portuguese history of Goa can be divided into two periods - the Old Conquests and the New Conquests. The Old Conquests of Tiswadi, Salcete (including Mormugao) and Bardez happened between 1510 and 1543; while the new conquests took place over two centuries later, from 1763 to 1788, in which Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, Ponda, Sattari, Bicholim and Pernem came under Portuguese rule.
Not much destruction
in the New Conquest
It is in the old conquests that the Portuguese imposed the ferocity of their religion and culture on the native people; but in the new conquests, there was subdued or no religious persecution and people were able to retain unchanged, their culture, religion and even their way of life.
In the new conquests, the experts claim that the Portuguese allowed the celebration of festivals and locals even constructed temples without much objection.
“In the new conquests, there are few reported instances of destruction because, by that time, when people heard about what happened in the earlier conquests, they moved the shrines from accessible to inaccessible, safer areas," Kerkar explained.
Razing of small shrines
might not be on records
Sanjeev Sardesai added that a huge number of temples were destroyed in the Old Conquests and that the Portuguese records may not have accounted for the innumerable smaller shrines gone behind the sands of time.
According to Portuguese records, which have been studied by historians, these shrines were safely preserved for over 100 years after being shifted to alternative sites. After Portugal became a republic in 1910, certain restrictions imposed on Goa were lifted and temple construction began.
New temples built, rebuilt
“The Sri Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji was constructed in 1818, and the Sri Maruti Temple at Mala was established in 1931. The Mhamai Kamat family played a significant role in the construction of the Sri Mahalaxmi Temple, since they had very good trade relations with the Portuguese. Other temples were also built, initiating the trend of shrine relocation. Sri Shantadurga Devi moved from Balli to Cuncolim,” Kerkar explained.
Kanekar added that although most old temple buildings now found in Goa are about 100-200 years old, some are much older foundations that were rebuilt, probably more than once. “Examples include the Nagueshi temple at Bandora, and the Chandreshwar at Paroda, which were rebuilt under the Portuguese in the new Goan style,” she said.
Strong civil engineering, strong laws
Sanjeev Sardesai also acknowledged the positive contributions left behind by the Portuguese.
"We must also acknowledge the improvements they made to infrastructure, such as the Patto-Ribandar causeway, which has stood strong for 392 years. It was built in 1632-35 AD for bullock carts and horse carriages. In comparison, look at the new bridges that collapse within months or years... the GMC, numerous other buildings, and houses built then are also still standing," he said.
Sardesai also pointed to the Uniform Civil Code, Gaonkari system codified to the Codes of Comunidade, brought in by the Portuguese, but also emphasized that: "We must not forget that the then Portuguese administration made aggressive attempts to wipe out the local culture such as refusing Konkani, even in the form of the “Kristapurana” created by Fr Stephen in the local dialect."
Ignorance prevails
Amita Kanekar agrees that no religious persecution occurred in the new conquest. “As far as I know, no! Laws were, in fact, passed to protect the traditional customs of the people in the New Conquests. Mosques, temples, and other shrines were also not broken here. But there is a lot of general ignorance about this, and I have come across lay people in Ponda and Canacona claiming that temples were destroyed,” she said.
This Portugal-based foundation financed renovation of a temple
Earlier this year, the government inaugurated the renovated Saptakoteshwar Temple in Bicholim, a State Protected Monument.
The temple has a unique history as the original temple, which was situated on the island of Divar, and was the favoured deity of the Kadamba Kings. The present structure located at Narve in Bicholim, which has a Linga of Lord Shiva (known as Dharlinga), was renovated by King Chhatrapati Shivaji in the year 1668 AD.
But what is forgotten or overlooked was that two decades ago, in 2000, it was a Portugal-based foundation that had financed its renovation. As per details made available by the Fundacao Oriente office in Goa, the request for the restoration work of the temple was made in May 2000 by the State Directorate of Archives & Archaeology. The work commenced in January 2001 and was completed in July 2001 at a cost of Rs 12.5 lakh.
The project involved the architectural restoration of the temple edifice, both from outside as well as inside. The major work involved plastering, painting, structural improvement and roofing of the Mandapa and entrance veranda area of the temple.
