HERALD FEATURES
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In April 1982, when ICOMOS International Council for Monuments and Sites) and later the UNESCO’s General Conference in 1983, nominated a special day for International Monuments and Sites or the World Heritage Day, it was a recognition of the fact that a nations diverse cultural heritage can be conserved through these monuments. Or as UNESCO terms it, ‘our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration’.
This year, 2013, the ICOMOS’s dedicated theme focuses on Heritage of Education (schools, universities, libraries, academies, etc.) in its expressions in different geo-cultural contexts).
Throughout history education was practised in open spaces, ‘agoras’ or under the shade of a tree. Over time several institutional buildings, such as ‘madarasas’, schools, universities, academies, libraries, monasteries and so on developed. Many of those early buildings not only bear social or institutional values, but also historical and artistic ones and have thus become an important part of our cultural heritage. The dual purpose of conserving and protecting the heritage of education not only implies preserving our cultural heritage, but at the same time celebrating education as one of the fundamental human rights and tasks.
Recalling the early days of education in Goa, Maria Lourdes Bravo da Costa, (Asst State Librarian – Retd) points out that seminaries were the first basic centres of education during the Portuguese era. “Parochial schools were the basis of academic and music education. Primary education was started in the churches and temples in the pre-Portuguese days. After the primary, boys sought higher education at St Paul’s and St Augustine’s at Old Goa and girls went to Santa Monica convent at Old Goa,” she states.
The Afonso de Albuquerque Lyceum or ‘Liceu Nacional Afonso de Albuquerque’ established in 1854 in Panjim was the first public secondary school in Goa. Primary education by decree of the Portuguese government was to be administered in Portuguese. English education was to make its first appearance when Fr Lyons established the Sacred Heart of Jesus High School at Arpora in 1912. Subsequently, by 1950, twenty five more English schools came up in Goa. A student who wished to study through any medium other than Portuguese had to necessarily pass the ‘primeiro grau’ first. While the best of educational facilities are available to the students now, Lourdes Bravo da Costa laments the fact that people nowadays are qualified, but not competent to handle a job. “I still remember what I was taught at the primary level. Our education system was thorough and practical compared to the present day,” she states.
Among Goa’s foremost educational institutions, the Goa Medical College or ‘Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de (Nova) Goa ‘(the old building in Panjim now houses the IFFI office and ESG), is one of the oldest medical colleges in Asia. The college also boasts of one of the oldest medical libraries which set up in 1845.
The Goa State Central Library which was started by the then Viceroy Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro as the ‘Publica Livraria of the Academia Militar de Goa, (Military Training Institute) in 1832 was one of the oldest public libraries in India. Later it was renamed ‘Bibliotheca National Vasco da Gama’. Earlier housed at the Police building in Panjim, it moved to its new premises at Patto in 2011.
Another college which has stood the test of time is the St. Xavier’s College, situated atop the hill at Mapusa. One of the largest and oldest colleges, St. Xavier’s was initially set up in 1963 with just 140 students.
Among the schools, Don Bosco High School (1947), People’s High School (1937), Mushtifund High School (Mushtifund Saunstha 1908), St, Mary’s Convent High School (1948), St. Britto’s (1946), Loyola High School (1932), Bhatikar Model High School (1935), Mater Dei Institution (founded 1909 ; established 1914 ) are some of the sterling educational institutions in the State.
If education lacks, despite the presence of over 2000 schools in the state today, it is as Hands-on-Historian, Sanjeev Sardesai points out that Goans themselves are not aware of the heritage of their own state. “We pay yeoman service to our heritage only during the designated Heritage Week, but beyond that we are not doing much in terms of education, to create awareness and empower our younger generation with our rich heritage,” says Sanjeev who is adamant that we educate to conserve and promote our heritage in every sense of the word.
Researcher of Ancient History in Goa, Rohit Phalgaokar also seconds the need to make the best of what we are bestowed with. “Many buildings of the Portuguese era have become vacant and are likely to become vacant in the future. We need to put them to right use to preserve our historical culture,” he avers.
Indeed, as the world’s focus once again comes to rest on the heritage of each country as a way of preserving their cultural diversity, each citizen should take pride in making meaningful contribution to the conservation and promotion of it.
