Unfolding the lost traces of forgotten history

Conservation sciences are developing fast. As such, not everybody would get interested in digging the buried past or turning the pages of history as ‘archaeology’ is a niche subject. Archaeology is a sister concern of history with same topics, which are dealt differently. “History can be based on oral and written records but archaeology looks more at material culture, needs more proof and scientific investigation through coins, excavations, biological remains like bones etc. To be specific, archaeology as a subject is the study of human past with respect to material culture. It is a detective science. As you get new and new evidences the whole timeline may shift and a new approach may be figured out,” explains Sawani Shetye Malik, one of the youngest and promising archaeologists in Goa.

For archaeologists, very few career outlets or job options are available in India, other than taking up a government job or teaching the subject in a college. But then, not many colleges in India offer the subject for enthusiastic learners of history like Sawani. Wanting to understand the practical aspects of history led Sawani take up history in BA and archaeology in MA, and finally choosing to be an archaeologist.

“When I returned to Goa in 2017 after my masters in archaeology at Pune’s Deccan College, I had to create my own landscape and scope. I used to teach. My interest was always in public archaeology, which is making the subject interesting for the public and taking the research that has been done to public. This can be done through different modes – talks, courses, workshops etc. I started offline and during covid pandemic did online. I conducted heritage tours. I wanted to clear the image of Goa that it’s a party place. Even Goans have not seen all of Goa. When they asked if I could take them, I decided to start a heritage walk/trail company in Goa – Bhoomij, in 2018 and conducted trails – customised and curated ones to Kushavati, Ranmalle in Goa and to Raigad, Lonavala, Hampi etc outside Goa,” briefs Sawani.

Sawani takes up projects with the government of Goa and private agencies to do research based on history. She has created the State Calendar for the government of Goa with, based on festivals in that month, with images from Goan photographers. “In April, we have Ghode Modni. A picture and few lines on the festival, so that people know about festivals in Goa and visit it during those times. Apart from all State departments, the calendar is also displayed at Goa Sadan in Delhi,” she quips.

Speaking on archaeological sites in Goa, Sawani mentions, “First thing that disappoints people is Goan archaeological sites are not as grand and huge as in other States. Seeing our forts, they feel, there’s nothing much left of them. The caves at Rivona are not as grand as in Ajanta-Ellora or sculptures at Badami, Hampi. The forts at Alorna, Pernem are of low height, and not huge like Chittorgarh or Raigad. The reason for this is the ‘stone’. Different geographical locations have different stones having different properties. The forts are not huge because the Portuguese had cannons and guns. Their families didn’t live in the forts. Goa had more custom forts where some officers stayed for tax collection. With guns, the Portuguese could fight back with those who came with swords. One has to understand the historical facts why Goa does not have magnificent forts or stone sculptures.”

Due to heavy rainfall in Goa, huge excavations are not possible in Goa. Sawani was a part of excavations at Nagpur and Rajasthan, where soil and climate condition is different. Even if you dig a little in Rajasthan you find a Harappan wall, lot of artefacts, broken pots survived for thousands of years. Goa has extreme rainfall. Considering the rain and humidity do you expect that pot-shots would survive or get washed away easily! One should consider the natural factors too, advocates Sawani.

According to her, Goan archaeology has interesting stories. “Other States have huge sites. Ours is a smallest State, ruled by different dynasties from different influences – from Islamic culture to ancient Indian rulers like Chalukya, Kadamba, Bhoj and Vijayanagar. We also were part of the European culture and Portuguese. We have developed a mixed base, expressions of different cultures, taking things from each of these and Goa has found its own style of painting – Kaavi art or folk dances. You can see different concepts in such a limited geography which is interesting. There is so much to explore and understand. There are stories in the air,” says Sawani whose research has been for BA and MA dissertations’ on Kaavi art.

The 29-year-old archaeologist has documented the social history aspects of Kaavi art time, period when it happened, which are the different art influences that are seen on this art. “I am not an artist but my approach of looking at Kaavi art is an art historian’s aspect. Art historian looks at how history has impacted on art and how art has impacted on history. I saw that though the Kaavi art originated in Goa, it moved along with the people whose deities had moved outside Goa to Karnataka’s Uttar Canara, Maharasthra’s Sindhudurg and Konkan belt,” she mentions.

Sawani was featured in Ranbeer Alahabadia’s podcast which has 22 lakh views in the past few months, which is huge publicity for a newcomer like her. There were positive feedbacks. One heart-warming response was, the people whose ancestors were converted or migrated to Mangalore wanted to know the history and their roots in Goa. The podcast helped Sawani to come out of her shyness, and she is now more proactive on her YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/@sawanishetye?si=Kl_APG-tX_ic5xbV, give history talks, travel across Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, do shoots and tell the stories of people and places.