Due to my interest in Konkani Temples in Goa, and particularly our Kuldevata Ramnathi Devasthan I have been researching books on the Portuguese occupation in Goa. During the Portuguese Inquisition lasting more than 150 years (1560 – 1812), the Jesuits made a systematic attempt at wiping out the Konkani heritage in Goa. Konkanis were either tortured and killed, forced to convert, or give up their lands and migrate. And all our temples in the older Goa were destroyed. It was many other men-of-the-cloth, particularly Anglicans who spread the horrors of the Inquisition, and put political pressure on the Portuguese forcing it to end the Inquisition.
I have tracked scores of such books from the 18th and 19th century which shed a grim light on the atrocities of the Portuguese. In the midst of an enormous amount of historical literature, there are always the revisionists, trying to cast a softer glow on the Portuguese Inquisition. This one by an ordained priest takes the cake.
A few lines from his work and my related comments.
An Historical Sketch of Goa, Rev. Denis L. Cottineau de Kloguen (DK)
Gazette Press, Madras (1831), Reprinted pp 44-45
Also available digitized from the Library at Harvard College, Cambridge, MA; Pg 69 – 70.
Original text in italics is contiguous in one paragraph; my comments are in regular text.
AS – In this paragraph, the Reverend is trying to defend the Archbishop D Alexins de Menezes.
DK – … Some acts of violence by the Portuguese agents may have been committed, both before and after him, but they are not to be imputed to him.
AS - Really! Everyone else is to blame, but not the Archbishop.
DK – It is equally false, that, followed by the officers of the Inquisition, he went armed with fire and sword, to compel the inhabitants of Salsette to embrace the Christian religion. The Jesuits converted a great part of them by the usual and most laudable means;
AS – Reminded me of the recent controversial remarks by Pope Benedict 16th: (from the NY Times) “… in Brazil, … native populations had been “silently longing” for the Christian faith brought to South America by colonizers.” The Rev is probably alluding to such an “innate longing” for torture and death.
DK – but in order as they thought, the better to detach the remainder of the inhabitants from worship of idols, they destroyed all the temples and pagodas.
AS – Much to the embarrassment of the Jesuits, many forced converts continued to visit temples and kept to their traditional Hindu ways. The only way to prevent this was to destroy the temples. How many is “all”?
DK – This however, had the contrary effect; and the Pagans, exasperated at this circumstance, rose up in arms, murdered five jesuits, and several Portuguese.
AS – Did the Jesuits really expect anything else? Note the choice of the word “murdered” when associated with the Jesuits and the Portuguese. BTW, when “all temples and pagodas” were destroyed, how many of the locals were killed? Smoothly overlooked.
DK – The Governor then felt himself obliged to use arms likewise to reduce the rebels; and of course did not after wards permit the temples to be rebuilt.
AS – “reduce the rebels” here is an euphemism for “massacring the population”! And since when did the locals become the “rebels” in their own lands?
DK – But in all this, the Archbishop had nothing to do, and what is certainly better proved, are the good works and the pious establishments of Goa, of which he is the founder.
AS – Surprised he has not been nominated to be made a Saint!
My Posts Related to the Ramnathi Devasthan and other Konkani Temples:
- Ramnathi Devasthan, A Konkani Temple
- Flower sellers at the Ramnathi Devasthan
- Blue Skies: Ramnathi Devasthan
- Mangeshi Devasthan
- Cucumber seller at the Mangeshi Devasthan
- Mahalakshmi Devasthan, Bandivade, Goa
From what I had read, “Saint” Xavier, was also deeply involved in the persecution of Goan Hindus and he did get sainthood.
Its a pity that very few people in Goa know about the truths of the Goan inquisition and whats worse is that fellow Konkani people worldwide do not care about this and dont even know why they ended up being scattered in karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala.
It is sad that Goan Christians still use portugese in their language.
Hi all Konkanis,
I used to get very angry about all these atrocities which the Portuguese committed on our people. But the colonists have not spared anyone . The English, French, Dutch, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish have butchered millions. In the end, they got what they wanted. They have three new continents to themselves. Australia, North America, South America. They have created the biggest migration and transformation of continents on earth. Their bustling populations have created vibrant new nations and cultures. They have destroyed the Red Indians, Mayans. They have tapped on India and other African nations for two centuries of looting. The Africans have been dislodged as slaves. Last but not the least, they have brought thousands of new diseases to all humans who had no diseases. This is all in their nature. They are predators to the core and fighting is in their blood due to the large amounts of meat they consume.
But let’s forget about it. (I don’t know why we should ‘forget about it.’ Quite the contrary. Write and talk more about it! ~ Arun Shanbhag) Konkani is just a language and culture. Cultures come and go. Sanskrit is no more. Civilizations will be destroyed. Let us come out of your rigid mindsets and see ourselves as creations of this universe. Nothing more. Our ancestors have written the Vedas which is nothing but practical quantum physics. Try to see what you are. The identity does not matter. We have to find out who we are individually. That’s all that we have. We are all alone and nobody can help us live our life.
This message has no point. But hope I make something clear.
Shenoy
Sanskrit is live and thriving; I am in the midst of a Sanskrit course. So, I do not agree with ALL that you have said, but thank you for sharing your thoughts and starting the debate!
I liked the letter written by Shree Shenoy.
No doubt we need to learn from history to the extent that such things (inquisitions) don’t get to repeat and we get to increase our vigilance and preparedness. However, we should not “live” in history nor lose sleep over it. That is, let us be inspired by our ancestors and move forward rather than allow ourselves to be dragged back by these things. Let us go ahead, practise and noursih the Vedas (as also Sanskrit) while also being vigilant.
Absolutely, Vigilance is the key!
and we should arm ourselves with the correct knowledge to prevent a raid on our people and faith.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Arun
Niraj – you are absolutely right.
It was Xavier who petitioned the King of Portugal to impose the Inquisition in Goa (His letters to the king are available).
Because of his ‘efficiency’ in converting hindus he was made a “saint.”
BTW, the Inquisition was brutal for all the Hindus who resisted!
And right again – we hindus don’t know the history and see us all praying in front of his body in Goa! He tried his darndest to destroy our faith and we in turn revere him?
Thanks for your comment
[...] Note: See this post on Revisionism of the Portuguese Inquisition [...]
[...] When the Portuguese took over Goa in the 1500s, they announced the Inquisition, a systematic pogrom to irradicate all aspects of Hindu culture. This genocide was with the blessings and encouragement of the Vatican. Archives have letters written by Francis Xavier (later sainted) asking the King of Portugal to give the order to impose the Inquisition in Goa. ALL Hindu temples in Goa were burn’t, the lands confiscated and given to the church. By edict, Hindus could not own any land; these were confiscated by the Church. Hindus were caught and beef was rubbed on their lips forcing them to convert. Resistance was met by burning at the stake! Hindus were prohibited from having any images or representations of the Gods and were prevented to even read their scriptures in the privacy of their homes. See some discussion of the Revisionism here. [...]
[...] Revisionism about the Portuguese Inquisition References: [...]
[...] Revisionism about the Portuguese Inquisition References: [...]
[...] Revisionism about the Portuguese Inquisition References: [...]