North Goa
The
Gomantak being one of the ancient gateways of India, through its portals have
passed many a prince and potentate, merchant and medicant, saint and soldier.
The interplay of the cultures brought to Goa across, the Sahyadri mountains
in the east and the Arabian sea in the west, has left an indelible impression
on various aspects of cultural development of Goa, through the passage of time.
A Brief History of Goa
Advent of Portuguese (1498)
Lured by the thrill of discovery and goaded by the prospect of seeking Christians
and spices Portugal embarked on perilous voyages to the Orient which culminated
in Bartholomew Dias’ trip round the Cape of Good Hope. This spectacular
breakthrough opened new vistas. A decade later Vasco Da Gama set off eastwards
and in 1498 landed in Calicut and broke the Arab monopoly of trade.
Estado Da India (1510)
Fired with the dream of establishing an Eastern Empire for Portugal, Afonso
De Albuquerque, Governor-General of Goa, set to acquire stragetic centers also
the trade route. At the invitation of the Admiral of the Vijayanagar’s
fleet, he occupied Goa with little initial opposition. Though temporarily routed,
he triumphantly regained possession of the city on November 25, 1510 and kneeling
in the public square he dedicated Goa to St. Catherine whose feast was on that
day.
In 1530 Goa became the capital of the Portuguese Empire in the East and mistress
of the sea from the Cape of Good Hope to the China Sea.
St. Francis Xavier(1542-1552)
The
arrival in 1542 of a young Spanish nobleman turned Jesuit, with a brilliant
background of academic learning, created an impact that was tremendous. His
compassion for the weak and the downtrodden, his dynamic zeal and his innate
holiness edified many. Two years after his death in 1552, the incorrupt body
of the saint was enshrined in Goa. It continued to attract pilgrims from all
over the world even to this day.
India’s First Printing press (1556)
The first printing press of moveable types in the whole of India printed Doutrina
Christa written by Francis Xavier & Garcia de Orta called Colloquios Dos
Simples Drogos Medicinais & an early work of the famous poet Luis De Camoes
entitled Os Disparates Da India.
Goa as Union Territory
The Union Teritory of Goa, Daman & Diu is divided into three districts namely
Goa, Daman and Diu. As per the census of 1971 the total population of Goa amounts
92.69% of the population of the territory.
The area of Goa was constituted into a district in 1965 and the first Collector
of Goa took charge on March 29, 1965. The deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars were
appointed earlier in February 1965, two Deputy Collectors for 2 divisions of
the district, namely North Division & South Division. The Mamlatdars replaced
the Concelho Administrators of the Portuguese Regime.
