Sunday, July 19, 2009

Shades Of Saffron: Goan History : The First Hindu Uprising Against Foreign Rule

You must be knowing about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's battles against Mughals and Uprising of 1857 against British Rule. You must be even thinking that these were the only battles against foreign invaders. But 425 years ago the villagers of Kumkumahalli (now Cuncolim :: source Wikipedia) village in Goa rebelled against the cruel Portuguese in Goa.
In June, 1575 the European missionaries in Goa held the 2nd Catholic Meet. Laws were passed by Missionaries which could easily facilitate conversion of Hindus in Goa. Laws like 'conversion of Hindu child of mentally ill parents', 'conversion of Hindu child if state of his health is critical' etc..
even the Catholic missionaries joined the Portuguese army. Many people were killed and many temples were destroyed. The leader of the Hindus was killed. The people decided to surrender to Portuguese King. But the flame of Hindu Unity was not vanished. The Hindus rebuilt the temples and stopped paying taxes to Church.

The 2nd uprising of the Hindus took place in 1577 in Sasashhti (now Salcete).

Again in July 1583 the Hindus from Cuncolim rose against the Christen missionaries who had come to their village for converting Hindus. The Portuguese official who worked on the Raitur Fort invited 16 villagers for discussion. All the 16 villagers were prisoned. Out of which 14 were killed by the Portuguese.

Source :
गोवा दमण दीव स्वातंत्र्यलढ्याचा इतिहास
1st edition, 1986
by Manohar Hirba Sardesai

Shame on us!

On 15 July, 2009 the 426th anniversary of the Uprising was observed in Cuncolim. Other than school children only 35 people were present for the anniversary. The Municipal chief of Cuncolim, Mr. Filon Vaz, reporter and freedom fighter Flavian Dias and Mr. Subhash Velingkar of RSS were present for the function. Freedom fighters were felicitated in the function.