Distortion of History

If it has been reported correctly ‘History is being distorted: Dr. Ferrao’ (Herald, 9 October) a speaker stated that history is being distorted, when, ‘inter alia’, the battle of Cuncolkars in the XVIth century is being described as a war of independence from the Portuguese. 

Now history is not a mere recital of facts. Definitely it is based on facts, but the latter connected in a system and evaluated. Thus the same historical fact can be presented differently by two historians following different ideologies. This is not a distortion of history. Hence the said battle of Cuncolim 

is presented by the Portuguese historians then (and their camp followers now) as a battle for safeguarding their interests, while Goan freedom fighters, specially from Cuncolim, view it as a war of independence from the Portuguese.

Then the speaker, as reported, posed a question: “When did the Goan Konknno become a Hindu?”. 

In my view, the question has to be posed the other way: “When did the Goan Hindu become a Konknno?” 

The latter nickname, which is offensive, was chosen by the Portuguese to designate those who remained faithful to the religion of their ancestors and their cultural moorings of Konkan, since for the Portuguese to become a Catholic meant to adopt Portuguese way of life. 

The speaker states that globalisation has made Indians, and by implication Goans, rootless. 

Now, if globalisation is a worldwide phenomenon, and, if it has not made the Japanese, the Chinese and the Portuguese rootless, I fail to understand how it can ‘per se’ make us rootless. In fact, what can make us rootless, is precisely the present fashion to look down upon our language and our culture and to imitate the West. 

The speaker states that “while Catholic religion is based on hope, Hindutva thrives on fear”. 

The fact is that the Catholic religion is based first and foremost on love, and I fear that there are no data to establish that Hindutva, which the Supreme Court described not as religion but as a way of life, thrives on fear.