| Goa has a vibrant history and is quite significant in the historical legacy of India. The Hindu scriptures say that Goa was created when the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, known as Parashuram shot an arrow from his bow at the sea asking it to recede. Thus, a small patch of land was revealed after the sea receded and Goa was created. This wonderful patch of land was beautiful to look at with swaying coconut trees, golden sands and turquoise blue seas. This is a very common folklore associated with the Goan history |
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| The history of Goa dates back to the 3rd Century BC. Goa was a part of the Mauryan kingdom under the rule of the great emperor Ashoka. After his death, many Hindu kingdoms like Chalukyas, Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas, etc. took over his region and his empire was fragmented. Goa was made a major maritime power during the empire of Kadambas in the 10th century. Their rule lasted for 300 years and Goa was their main trade center. Goa had a turbulent phase under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate during the year 1356. But it gained stability during the rule of Vijayanagar kingdom that lasted for a century |
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| During the 15th century, the Portuguese discovered Goa when they were busy spreading Christianity and searching for new trade routes. They landed near Calicut in Kerala around 1498. They were unable to get a foothold in Kerala and thus proceeded a bit towards north and captured Goa. Within no time, they spread their rule all over Goa and established themselves as the supreme power over the trade route of Goa near the sea. As time passed by, Goa became the hub of Portuguese empire all over Asia |
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| The capital city of the Portuguese was Old Goa which was a wealthy and prosperous center. This attracted many Portuguese immigrants who came to Goa and settled there. At the end of the 16th century, the population of Goa surpassed that of Paris and London! The vast natural resources, immense wealth and monopoly over trade routes resulted in the increase of population and expansion of the Portuguese colony towards further east. They even wanted a separate rule and started a movement for that. |
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| Even after the British rule in India ended in 1947, the Portuguese held control. Finally in 1961 a movement was started to grant Goa independence. Finally Goa was declared a union territory administered by central government of India on 30th May 1987. Thus Goa has a unique amalgamation of Hindu, Muslim and Catholic cultural elements in its tradition. Yet it has held on tightly to its own Konkani heredity and is a thriving state today |
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| History of Chapora Fort |
| Chapora Fort was built by the Muslim ruler Adil Shah of the Bahamani kingdom of Bijapur (now in modern day Karnataka) as a border post to protect against invasions by Hindu rulers in the 17th century. It was known as 'Shahapura' during those times. |
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| The Portuguese took control of Goa and re-built the fort in 1617. They lost the bastion of Chapora to the Maratha army under Prince Sambhaji in 1684. The 18th century saw battles between the Portuguese and Marathas for the supremacy of Chapora Fort. |
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| The Marathas withdrew from Chapora Fort in 1717; the Portuguese re-gained control and re-built the fort with underground tunnels for safe passage during battles and emergencies. The Marathas re-captured Chapora from the Portuguese after 22 years in 1739, only to lose again after two years in 1741. The Portuguese controlled Chapora Fort for more than 150 years from 1741 until they deserted it in 1892. |
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| Chapora Timeline |
| Built by Adil Shah of Bijapur in early 17th century. Portuguese 1617-1684, Marathas 1684-1717, Portuguese 1717-1739, Marathas 1739-1741, Portuguese 1741-1892. |
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| The Portuguese and Goa |
| Goa for all purposes was not on the Portuguese Radar even after a long time of their presence in India. When the Portuguese nobleman Alfonso de Albuquerque and his cousin Francisco de Albuquerque were sent with a powerful fleet in 1503 on the orders of King Dom Manuel I, the purpose was to defend the cargoes of spices, mostly pepper, against Arab Muslim raiders. The center of spice trade was Calicut at that time and Portuguese had built forts in Cochin and Cannanore. |
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| It was in 1506-08 that an opportunistic pirate, Timoja, persuaded Albuquerque to attack Goa and acquire a better land base. This made Goa, Portugal's first real territorial acquisition in Asia. After a brief period of recapturing by the Muslims, Goa Albuquerque finally captured Goa in 1510. |
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| The inquisition of Goa in 1540 reversed the previous liberal policy of Albuquerque and imposed strict censorship of literature and new laws to forbade non-Christians from professions. Forced conversions took place continuously, censorship was established on literature, the temples were destroyed, and non-Christian priests, holy men, and teachers were evicted. This led to continuous fleeing of Hindus from Goa to other parts of India. |
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| It is not that the relationship with Portugal brought only destruction for the Goans. Portuguese also built great churches like the church of St. Cajetan and Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is a pilgrimage site for the Christians from around the world. But it is also true that pre-1961, Goa was a highly impoverished region very backward and primitive. It is after the liberation that Goa of today has emerged and it has surprised even the locals many of whom had left their homeland before its liberation. Portugal and India are today friends and Goa continues to be a fascinating blend of Latin and Oriental. |
