SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Antonio Lobo
The pronouncement that “Shivaji had almost conquered and taken control of Bicholim, Satari, Pernem, Bardez, Antruz Mahal Talukas and Betul Fort...” has only shown that the Chief Minister of Goa is utterly ignorant of historical facts or, if that is not true, that he is out to actively truncate those facts in order to make them fit his narrative.
In the first place, Bicholim, Satari, Pernem and Antruz (Ponda) were not parts of the Portuguese possessions at the time when Shivaji was alive or even his son Sambhaji. In fact, those talukas were under the control of the Sawants of Sawantwadi who were the vassals of the Marathas. Terrorised by repeated attacks on his kingdom, the Raja of Saunda who held sway over Antruz (Ponda and surrounding areas), was finally obliged to seek protection of the Portuguese in order to save his kingdom from being swallowed by either the Marathas or other neighbouring kingdoms, thus clearly showing that he preferred the reign of the Portuguese to those of the Marathas or any others. There cannot be better judges of who was preferable at that time than those who lived during that period. Even as late as 1961, prior to Goa's invasion, the Portuguese government continued to respect Saunda's position as the erstwhile ruler of that region. It is ironical therefore that a monument in the form of a fortress was built at Farmagudi, Ponda (in Antruz), during Bandodkar’s regime, in an area where Shivaji was not welcome.
It would not be out of place to mention here that, at the time when Shivaji decided that he should attack the Portuguese in Goa, his actual target were the Portuguese possessions outside the island of Bombay, namely, Mahim, Bandra (Bandora, as it was called) Bassein (Baçaim), Thana, etc, all regions of greater Bombay, referred to in Goa as the northern possessions still under Portuguese control and administration, were sought to be taken over by Shivaji, under the active instigation of the British East India Company which was allowed to administer the island of Bombay after its hand-over to the British Crown as dowry consequent upon the marriage of Catarina de Bragança to the English monarch, who could not attack the Portuguese due to the treaty of peace and mutual aid.
Unfortunately the campaign by the Marathas to conquer those northern possessions of the Portuguese lasted for a long time, given that one of the main fortresses located in Bandra could not be conquered in spite of being besieged for over a year by Shivaji's forces. Therefore, the reason for his diversionary attacks upon Goa, a region that he did not consider to be under the Maratha influence since it was more of the Kanadiga, was only meant to weaken the defences of Portugal in those northern regions.
Incorrectly, the CM mentioned that Shivaji surrendered to the Portuguese. He did not. He was however, forced to withdraw as the Mughals attacked him at that time, as he was also waging a war against them. In their turn the Portuguese attacked the coastal zones of the Sawants and conquered areas up to Vengurla and Malwan which they later returned to those rulers under a later treaty.
Shivaji attacked Bardez and Salcete in order to draw away the Portuguese forces from the northern regions. At that time they wreaked havoc and destruction in Bardez and Salcete. Shivaji may be a hero to Sawant but surely he ought to have been more careful and sensitive before opening his mouth and putting his foot in it. Shivaji is no hero to Goan Catholics and even many Hindus (Konknnes) in Goa. Those who rain praises upon him, and are going on a statue building spree, would do well to note this piece of history including the Municipality of Mapusa and the Rotary Club of the city of Mapusa which is financing the statue (about to be erected in this city) without any prior consultation with the citizens of Mapusa. Goans are tolerant by nature but let us not forget the Opinion Poll and Konkani agitation.
