23 Mar 2018  |   06:14am IST

Panjim at 175!

Our Panjim recently completed 175 years as the Capital. Right from 1843 to 2018, Panjim has been constantly changing and getting more versatile. Café speaks to a few Panjimities about their city

Café speaks to a few Panjim residents to learn about their early days in Panjim and what developments they would like to see in the city:

 

 

 

Panjim remains very dear to me. I belong to Panjim and Panjim belongs to me. It used to be better but now it’s getting worse by the month. The footpaths are cracked and in bits and the Panjim gardens have no flowers. Panjim exists only for the casinos. Architectural heritage that was built prior to 1960s is still well maintained. Post that, Kala Academy is the only structure that is world class in Panjim. Trees are our lungs and there is still a green expanse over Altinho.

VASCO PINHO,

historian

 

 

 

This is our history and heritage. Congratulations to all us Panjekars. Today our beautiful city Panaji completes 175 years as the fourth historic capital of Goa as today in history on March 22, 1843, Queen Donna Maria the Second officially declared Panjim as the capital of Goa. Panaji is not 175 years old, just the naming of the city as the capital of Goa is 175 years. Our Panaji always existed historically since the Kadamb era. We have 11th century Kadamb Era inscription to prove that. There are many historic artefacts such as the Tonca Pillar of November 3, 1859 that are part of my heritage walks for my history students.

PRAJAL SAKHARDANDE,

professor

 

 

 

My fondest memories are of the carnival in Panjim before the government got its commercial hands on it. It used to be more by the people and for the people, rather than for the tourist. I would love a Panjim of the ‘80s. Panjim has changed too much already and I would like to see more care taken towards our architectural heritage since that’s the only thing left.

VASCO ALVARES,

chef

 

 

 

I have lived in Panjim for over 37 years and I love the areas of Fontainhas and the river front of Campal. The heart of Panjim is the central zone, which spans from Adil Shah’s Palace that was also the first Legislative Assembly in the state, to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, covering many old establishments. Parking is a menace that has to be attended to at the earliest and even the system of garbage collection has to be improved.

DR CELSA PINTO,

historian and researcher of Panjim

 

 

 

Panaji is one of the most beautiful cities in India. Nature has been kind to Panaji and blessed it with the confluence of the Mandovi river and the Arabian Sea. Historically, it has been well planned. The present generation of stakeholders should build on its strengths, preserve its natural beauty and make it the pride of India in the 21st century.

YATIN KAKODKAR

,

President, International Centre Goa

 

 

 

I was born and brought up here in Panjim. I love the place but a lot more needs to be done. We don’t need anything dramatic or “smart” but simple, basic things need to be done. We need to improve basic amenities like garbage management; we have become pedestrian friendly and more importantly, disabled friendly. As I have said before, we don’t need smart cities.

RAJ VAIDYA,

proprietor, Hindu Pharmacy

 

 

 

Happy 175th birthday, Panjim! Today is a day to reflect on the rich history of Panjim,celebrate its amazing journey over the last 175 years and acknowledge the achievements of the capital city of Goa. Having been born and brought up in scenic Panjim, I will always be proud of this city. It has a vibrant culture and is a thriving marketplace of ideas; I’m sure it will continue to reach greater heights in the years to come.

KABIR PINTO MAKHIJA,

former Deputy Mayor

 

 

 

PANJIM AT 175

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

 

 

 

Mario Rebello:

Born and raised in my beautiful Panjim City. Our ancestral house was right on 18 June Road between Caculo island to Panjim church. Everything was so serene and beautiful, clean streets, where the municipal workers cleaned the streets twice, no high rise buildings, Panjim market was clean, all city gardens were well kept, Campal, Miramar, Caranzalem beach stretch so clean and beautiful up till Dona Paula. The existing road from Campal to Miramar was with very few houses, on the left hand side were mostly fields. Overall beautiful city and I am proud to be a Ponjekar.

Parthasarathy Sen:

As a non Goan, Panjim fascinated me in all respects. On the city’s 175th anniversary, my best wishes and love to its inhabitants, to Goa and her people. Goa is really charming and full of vitality.

Edward S Lopes:

Looking at the picture reminded me of Singbal book shop. If we never found the school text books we wanted, we would get it at singbal. Next is George Bar and restaurant, my favourite place for half beer and beef chilli fry. Not anymore the same now. Have many fond memories of Panjim Goa, during our school days. Was a day scholar for a while at Don Bosco’s.

Stephen Francis:

Panjim is a beautiful designed city. Portuguese Architecture and Clean and Good roads with a wonderful river view. Beautiful Goa Beautiful India

Amruddhi Naik:

Walking in lanes which have antique Goan touch, while on the other end u see the modern look, a fusion of both! Always the best and busiest city!

Anupa Sawant:

The beautiful place in world.....lots of lovely memories of school and college time....love u my Panjim city

Fausta Fernandes:

Yes of course I love my Panjim city. Not because it’s the capital of Goa. But because it’s my home town

Nikhil Naik:

Nothing beats the charm of Goa! Happy 175th Panji.

Wendell Rodricks:

HAPPY 175th BIRTHDAY PANJIM. THE CITY WITH THE MOST STEPS IN INDIA. History Trivia: Panjim the capital city of Goa comprises 30 wards that include Fontainhas, Mala, St Tome, Alto Pilotos, Boca de Vaca, Portais, Bhatlem, Tonca, Alto Guimaraes, Campal, St Inez, Gaspar Dias, etc. Panjim’s history is long. Historical accounts of this place date back to Kadamba King Shasthadeva (1007-1050). An inscription of the Kadamba King Vijayaditya I, dated February 7, 1107 and it refers to Panajim as Pahajani Khali. Another interpretation of the name is that Panji or Ponji is said to mean the “land that never gets flooded”. Yet another interpretation is that it is a variation of Pancha Yma Afsumgary or five wonderful castles where the Muslim King Ismail Adil Shah and his wives used to live. The name was later changed to Panjim by the Portuguese and when Old Goa collapsed in the 19th century, Panjim was elevated to the status of a city on 22 March 1843 and was renamed “Nova Goa”. After Liberation in 1961 it was known as “Panaji”