BHARATI PAWASKAR
Know your city, know your town. History should not remain in the books that lay silent on the library shelves. It should walk and talk and breathe with people. Here’s a walk with legend - offered by Soul Travelling in the capital city of Goa. “Once a marshy land, disconnected from the rest of Goa Panaji only got connected to Ribander when a bridge was constructed at one end of it (today’s Patto area) - making it the longest causeway of Asia,” briefs Sanjeev Sardesai, the historian from Goa who has brought history out of the books into the homes and hearts of people.
Walking with this historian is a joy as he unfolds the history book before enthusiastic listeners who come with myriad questions while Sanjeev joyfully replies to them with every minute detail that was part of the past. “We wish to acquaint the Goans and also others who would be walking with us, to the fact that there is history attached to each of the structure on either side of the roads in Fontainhas (also known as the Latin Quarter) so that they can relate to these places. It is about understanding some of the lesser known stories while connecting with the past,” states Sanjeev.
These walks aim at bonding Goan with Goa. While walking through the streets of this Sunaparanta, there are few important things which one must take note of. Sanjeev feels that many times we find that today’s generation is not aware of the richness of our own culture. He observes, “We have wasted time, since liberation till now, and are not aware of what yesteryear Goa was like.” Hopeful that these walks will bring Goans close to their motherland, Sanjeev briefs on his effort to introduce Goans to their own land along with others who also wish to peek through the history.
Beginning from Fontainhas at 8 am, the walk will cover houses, buildings and landmarks on either side of the road, with Sanjeev explaining the historical importance of the place. There’s this mint house where coins were minted and the post office building that was once upon a time used as a store house for tobacco, and also as a godown before it became the post office.
Then there is the old secretariat (earlier Adilshah’s palace) which was the house of the Portuguese governor, where possibly some type of punishment was inflicted upon people during inquisition era.
The chapel in this palace has a unique crucifix. It was brought to the site in 1812 from the palace of inquisition in Old Goa. In the crucifix, Christ’s eyes are opened. The representation is believed to have been done intentionally to fill fear in those people, who were being interrogated by inquisitors. This cross from the chapel within this building was later shifted to St Sebastian church.
History has two sides - good and bad, and one must look at both these sides, believes Sanjeev. “One cannot avoid questions before visiting any place. It’s nice to hear queries from a person who has visited the place and has doubts or questions. I would like to answer such questions,” states Sanjeev.
Pointing out that even doors and windows speak a lot, Sanjeev maintains that the houses in Goa are unique. They are Indo-Portuguese houses with influences from both the cultures - Indigenous and Portuguese. The verandas, balconies and open spaces (Rajangan) are specific to Goan homes. Even the place where roof ends is peculiar. “We would be walking-talking to Goan houses too,” he quips.
Not limiting the walk to good things in the past, Sanjeev wants to let the explorers look at the bad things too. “We would show them the famed mermaid statue that has sadly, been a victim of vandalism in the recent past. There is a bad side, too which allows people with crooked mind to spoil something beautiful,” states Sanjeev. Agreeing that Goans are lethargic, he wants to wake them up and walk the footpaths in Panaji starting from 8 am, have a Goan breakfast together and a peek in the history. Many such walks will follow - one every month - this one being the first endeavour of Soul Travelling of introducing Goa to Goans and others.
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