To "Alberto": I do not usually address comments made by people who do not give
their full names, but I will open an exception because your message raises some
important issues worth examining.
"The 13 coloniesrevolted against England because they refused to be considered
second-classcitizens. Whites born in America were forming a resistance against
the whitecolonizers who imposed high taxes. The true Americans, the so-called
Indians,were meanwhile being exterminated."
I am not anexpert in the history of the United States so I cannot comment on
this indetail. I can say, however, that history is a process and today the
UnitedStates is a far “more perfect Union” (to borrow the expression of the
authorsof the US Constitution) than it was in 1776. Let us not forget that
thePortuguese found in Goa a caste system legitimized by religion in which
anentire segment of the population was condemned to perpetual servitude, a
systemthat even the Jesuits and Christianization could not completely erase. So
letus pause before we cast stones on other countries.
"In Goa duringthe Portuguese colonial regime, there never were "democratically
electedrepresentatives of the people of Goa."
Sounds like “Alberto”believes that the history of Goa started on 28 May 1926
when the “RevoluçãoNacional” (National Revolution) in Portugal established the
“Estado Novo.” But as we allknow, the history of Goa is much longer than that.
Between 1822 and 1926 (i.e.,for 104 years) the elections in Goa were democratic
and they were fair. Infact, they were so fair that in one of the elections
Bernardo Peres da Silva (aGoan) defeated the Viceroy of Portuguese India (a
European) who had decided torun to stop Peres da Silva. It was during this
period that the people of Goaelected distinguished Parliamentarians like
Bernardo Peres da Silva, AntónioCaetano Pacheco, Francisco Luis Gomes,
Cristóvão Pinto, Prazeres da Costa, andmany others. After 1926 and during the
Estado Novo the elections were rigged,but they were rigged everywhere in the
Portuguese Nation, not just in Goa.
"Only Christianswere well regarded by the unelected government in Lisbon, and
most Hindus inGoa were treated with disdain."
This is notcorrect. To give a few examples, in the 16th and 17th centuries,
Goan Hindus occupied key positions in every trade and profession more so
thanChristians. Goan Hindus were praised by the Portuguese for their skill, and
thePortuguese preferred them to the Goan Christians. Later, many Goan
Hindusreceived titles of nobility awarded by the King of Portugal (Barão
Dempó,Visconde Quencró, Visconde de Perném, etc.). More recently,
PandurongaPissurlencar was awarded a well-deserved honorary Doctorate (“Doutor
HonorisCausa”) by the University of Lisbon. The Rao family had monopoly of the
cinemabusiness in Goa for many years as owners of the “Cine Teatro Nacional.”
EvenDayanand Bandodkar was allowed to build a big business in the mining
industryin Goa. This does not mean that there was no racism or discrimination
in Goa. The451-year history of the Portuguese rule in Goa is complex, full of
paradoxes,contradictions, and upheavals, not easily amenable to simplistic
generalizations.
"As for"it is the 96th anniversary of the Goan Declaration
ofSelf-Determination," only a minority group of Christians defended
thatdeclaration."
Where is thedata to support this statement? The Declaration was issued by
democratically electedRepresentatives to the Government Council, and they spoke
on behalf of thepeople of Goa.
"The majority,through integration with Mother India, was led by Ram Manohar
Lohia,Julião Meneses, T.B. Cunha, Luís Menezes Bragança, Evágrio George, P.D.
Gaitonde,and even Jack Sequeira."
This is alsonot correct. There was never a plebiscite in Goa, and therefore, we
do not knowwhat the majority of Goans wanted, and, sadly, we will never know.
Ram Manohar Lohiawas not a Goan and his entry into Goa was repudiated by
several Goans in astatement published in the newspaper “A Vida.” Pedro Correia
Afonso wrote thisstatement, and among the signatories was his brother Francisco
Correia Afonso.You may want to read “Goa: A TerceiraCorrente” by Mário Bruto da
Costa wherehe discusses this in detail. Luis de Menezes Bragança was never in
favor oftransferring the sovereignty of Goa to India or any other nation. As
far as Iknow, Jack Sequeira was never involvedin politics until after the
annexation of Goa in India. Jack Sequeira played a majorrole after the
annexation of Goa. Had it not been for Jack Sequeira, Goa wouldhave been a
colony of Maharashtra.
"AntónioAnastásio Bruto da Costa, a landowner and admirer of Salazar, did not
want abreak with Lisbon and defended dependence with limited autonomy
fromforeigners, second-class citizens."
I did notspeak of Bruto da Costa in my article or my post. I doubt he was an
admirer ofSalazar. From reading “Goa: A Terceira Corrente” I am under the
impression thathe treated Salazar with respect, but he was firm in his
opposition to the dictatorshipand the “Acto Colonial,” and therefore, he
followed the political tradition ofMenezes Bragança. On the other hand, you,
“Alberto” should admire and applaudSalazar. In his “Acto Colonial” Salazar said
exactly what you said: that the Goans to “objects of possession” of the
Portuguese, a position that wascondemned by Menezes Bragança and Bruto da Costa.
"Goa, today, asone of the states of India, is governed by Goans elected
democratically. Therulers are natives of Goa and speak Konkani, and Lisbon does
not send agovernor-general who only spoke Portuguese and defended foreign
interests."
Obviously, youare entitled to your views on this. Just remember that as of this
date, BernardoPeres da Silva, whom I consider as the greatest leader Goa has
ever known,remains as the only Goan who had the distinction of being Governor
of Goa. He lastedonly 3 weeks, not because of the racism of the Portuguese, as
it was falselystated by respected historians like Teotónio de Sousa and
Leopoldo da Rocha. Hewas deposed by Absolutists because he was a Liberal. Many
Portuguese Europeansand their descendants were slaughtered because they
defended him. SeveralPortuguese Europeans followed him in his exile, and the
Editor of the newspaperthat defended him was a Portuguese European. These facts
are shoved under therug by some historians because they did not find them
politically palatable.
Last, butnot least, I am a historian, not a politician. I am a firm believer
that researchin history should be based on impartial interpretation of data,
and not on thepersonal beliefs or ideologies of the historians or on political
expediency.
John M. de Figueiredo
On Friday, July 10, 2026 at 10:59:19 AM EDT, John de Figueiredo
<[email protected]> wrote:
Who is “Alberto”? Tell me your name please.JM de Figueiredo
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 10, 2026, at 5:02 AM, 'Alberto' via Goa-Research-Net
<[email protected]> wrote:
John
The 13 colonies revolted against England because they refused to be considered
second-class citizens. Whites born in America were forming a resistance against
the white colonizers who imposed high taxes. The true Americans, the so-called
Indians, were meanwhile being exterminated.
In Goa during the Portuguese colonial regime, there never were "democratically
elected representatives of the people of Goa." Only Christians were well
regarded by the unelected government in Lisbon, and most Hindus in Goa were
treated with disdain. As for "it is the 96th anniversary of the Goan
Declaration of Self-Determination," only a minority group of Christians
defended that declaration.
The majority, through integration with Mother India, was led by Ram Manohar
Lohia, Julião Meneses, T.B. Cunha, Luís Menezes Bragança, Evágrio George, P.D.
Gaitone, and even Jack Sequeira.
António Anastásio Bruto da Costa, a landowner and admirer of Salazar, did not
want a break with Lisbon and defended dependence with limited autonomy from
foreigners, second-class citizens.
Goa, today, as one of the states of India, is governed by Goans elected
democratically. The rulers are natives of Goa and speak Konkani, and Lisbon
does not send a governor-general who only spoke Portuguese and defended foreign
interests.
A day of joy for Goans occurred on 19/12/1961.
Alberto
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