Goans have a multi-millennial history of self-rule of
Village Communities or Ganvkaris, termed in Portuguese Comunidades. 15th April
1961, was the day when Goans were solemnly declared owners of their inalienable
community lands, through the Legislative Diploma No. 2070 by which the Codigo
das Comunidades (Code of Comunidades), was solemnly promulgated as the law of
Goa’s lands. Every year the Ganvkars celebrate this day in the Capital City of
Panjim, but this year due to spike in Covid-19 cases, they may not be able to
assemble themselves for any celebrations.
Going into the
history, it is said that Ganvkaris are hailing from time immemorial. One Goan
researcher, based in Canada, who is coming up with his book, dates them back to
six millennia. Another expert Dr. Simon D’Souza an Ex-NIO, has written that the
khazan lands in Goa date back beyond 3000 years.
In those times when
there was no paper, no pen, no ink, no printing press, very few people bothered
to write. Whatever is found written from those centuries/millennia is found in
stone inscriptions or metal plates. With regard to Ganvkaris the historians
date them back to their existent organisations, based on the Code of Manu, who
lived in the 5th century BC, when there was no ruler in this land. Goans were
ruling themselves through their Ganvkaris. Their rule continued even when a
ruler appeared on the scene in the 3rd century BC. From that time, upto
December 1961, when the Portuguese rule came to an end in Goa, so many rulers
ruled over Goa, sometimes dynasties extending through centuries. I can quote
briefly some of them as follows:
1. From the III century to I century BC – Chandragupta Maurya
Dynasty of Ashoka Empire.
2. From I century BC to III century AD – The Satyavanas Dynasty.
3. From IV and V centuries – Kingdom of Kalachuris of Tripur.
4. From VI century till the middle of VIII century – The
Chalukyas of Badami.
5. From the second half of the VIII century till the beginning
of XI century – The Shilaharas (Rastrakutas) of Karnataka.
6. From the XI Century till mid XII century – The Kadambas of
Banavasi, who fixed their capital at Chandrapur, (Chandor) and later on shifted
to Goapuri (Goa Velha).
7. From 1260 to 1318 – The Yadavas of Devagiri.
8. From 1318 to 1366 – It was ruled by Delhi Sultan, Kadambas of
North Karnataka and Bahamanis of Gulbarga.
9. From 1366 to 1470
– Ruled by Vijayanagara Dynasty.
10. From 1470 to 1479
Gen. Mohammad Gavan, Minister of Bahamani, King of Deccan, Mohamed Shah III.
11. From 1479 to 1489,
ruled by Malik Hussain of Honavar, under the protectorate of Bahamani King. He
transferred the capital provisionally from Goa Velha to Goalim – Moula and
later on permanently to the village of Ella, present Old Goa.
12. From 1489 till
1510, it was under dominion of Muslim King of Bijapur, Yusuf Adil Shah.
13. From 1510 to 1961
– Ruled by the Portuguese.
All these rulers have accepted that the land in Goa does not
belong to the ruler, but it was owned by the Village Communities or Ganvkaris.
The real rulers of Goan Villages were the Ganvkars – that is the reason why
locals did not revolt against any of these rulers, including the Portuguese.
The only exception was, that Yusuf Adil Khan had become more demanding and that
is the reason why the Hindu Brahmins of Goa headed by Malu Pai Vernekar, the
Headman of Verna village invited the Portuguese to free Goa from his rule.
From the Kadamba Dynasty till 1526, we have three written
documents about these Ganvkaris:
1. The Farman
(decree) of the King Jayakeshi I of the Kadamba Dynasty which dates back to
1054 AD, i.e 5 centuries before the arrival of the Portuguese. This document
was found filed in the records of the Secretariat of the Government of Goa, and
is dated 20th April 1054.
2. In 1510 when
Afonso Albuquerque came to rule Goa, the Village Ganvkars of the Island of Goa
(Tiswadi), had a meeting with the new ruler, during which they apprised him
about the land issues of Goa and conveyed to him in clear terms that the land
of Goa is owned by them and not by the Portuguese and that they consider the
Portuguese ruler as a Protector of their land and resources and for the service
of this protection, they would continue to pay him the same tribute, which they
used to pay to the earlier rulers based on their customs and usages. This was
accepted by Afonso Albuquerque, who assured them that they would enjoy their
traditional hold on their land and their rights to it. This treaty forms the
primary basis in written form of the existence of Ganvkaris in Goa and their
continuation from the pre-Portuguese time to the modern day.
3. Afonso Mexia,
Comptroller and Auditor General of the Portuguese Government in India, did the
first compilation of the centuries old customs and usages of the people of Goa.
It is known as Foral de Usos e Costumes dos Gancares e Lavradores desta Ilha de
Goa e Outras Annexas a Ella or simply as Foral de Afonso Mexia. It is dated
16th September 1526. This Foral is the Carta Magna of the Ganvkaris of Goa.
The Code of Comunidades constitutes the solemn declaration
related to the ownership of villages by holding direct dominion and not by the
Government. Thus, the Ganvkaris / Comunidades constitute the most ancient
living heritage of Goa and perhaps of India and from these institutions, Goans
inherit their Goan identity which includes five constitutive elements namely:
Land, Konkani Language, Ethos Culture and Communal Harmony. It is from these
communities that Goans grew as the most peaceful people respected throughout
the world.
The Ganvkaris / Communidades have sustained Goa’s economy
through the centuries, so much so, that they made profits which were shared
among the members. It is worth studying this model of economy and revive the
same.
From 1962 onwards we see that although the Government recognizes
the land ownership belonging to the Ganvkaris, the behaviour of the Government
has proved the contrary. Instead of cutting the whole tree, which would have
made a big noise, the Government has tried to mutilate these Institutions of
self-governance, by gradually cutting their branches by bringing in the
Agricultural Tenancy Act 1965 and trying to attract Land Revenue Code 1968 to
Comunidade villages. These have created confusion in the minds of the local
Goans. As a consequence, the way ahead may be very difficult for their
survival. Goans should recapture the community spirit, which they have
inherited from their ancestors. Only then can Goa see bright days in future.
