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Goa Heritage Protection Week 30th May to 5th June 2006 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Abbe de Faria - Father of
Hypnotism
----------------------------------------
by Nandkumar Kamat
Sometime during 16th century, the family of Antu Sinai of the scenic
and historic village of Colvale converted to Christianity. They took the
name of Faria. A grand house and a chapel existed at Colvale in the
Farias ancestral property. With time, both crumbled to dust. In 1754
Cajetan Vitorino de Faria, who had taken the vows of priesthood,
after completing his theological education, left the religious duties,
married Rosemary, daughter of a landlord in Candolim, and became
their son-in law.
Strange twists and turns took place in the lives of Cajetan and Rosemary.
They separated after the birth of Jose Custodio on May 30, 1756 just
a year before the famous battle of Plassy, which gave the British East
India Company hold over Bengal. At that time, Hyder Ali was gaining
strength in South India. The Marathas were also in full command. Events
were happening at lightening speed. Cajetan became a priest again.
Rosemary became a nun and entered the convent of Santa Monica.
Jose Custodio spent 15 years in Goa in the verdant surroundings of
Colvale village. He never saw his mother again.
The father and son left for Portugal on the ship Sao Jose on February
22,
1771 for Lisbon,
Portugal, where they arrived on November 23. At that
time, they would not know what history had reserved for them. For one
they were destined never to see their motherland again. They had entered
Europe via Lisbon during one of the most turbulent periods in
international
history - the period of the American war of independence and the epochal
French revolution.
Father Faria received the support of the King of Portugal for the
education
of his son in Rome. Jose Custodio aimed to become a priest and completed
his doctorate in theology and philosophy from the college Propaganda
fide
in 1780. The Europeans would know him as Abbe de Faria. He would
be
the first Goan to receive both bouquets and brickbats from the local
press
during his active and controversial life in France and even after his
death.
His magnificent statue - a remarkable piece of sculpture from the master
sculptor, Ramchandra Kamat stands on the pedestal near the old
secretariat
in Panaji. A small plaque commemorates his birthplace at Candolim.
However,
there are no special programmes to celebrate the 250th birth anniversary
of
this great son of Goa - Father Jose Custodio alias Abbe de Faria. The
French
novelist, Alexander der Duma immortalized him in his novel-The Count of
Monte Cristo (1844). Those who have seen the film produced in 2002
would remember the character of Padre Faria imprisoned in the castle of
If with Edmond Dantes - the protagonist. Duma has given a different
background of the imprisoned priest but there is no doubt in anyones
mind
that the character is based on Abbe de Faria.
Until 1792, Abbe de Faria had no introduction to hypnosis (from the Greek
word Hypnos for sleep). However, when he became curious about the
claims
of animal magnetism and Mesmers mesmerism, he devoted himself to its
study. This interest continued and transformed his life. Ultimately, he
was
successful in rejecting Mesmers claims and provided a somewhat
scientific
and rational basis for hypnosis. His followers called his technique -
`Fariaism,
but experts later renamed to hypnotism. Before his death under utterly
impoverished circumstances in 1819, his first volume explaining the
principles
of hypnosis was in the press. To counter his critics he had planned four
volumes,
but he could complete only a single tome. The world took notice of this
work
but it was only in the 20th century that he was acknowledged as the
father of hypnotism.
Most of the books on his life and work are in French or Portuguese.
Recently
a book in English - `Jose Custodio de Faria: Hypnotist, Priest and
Revolutionary,
by Dr Laurent Carrer translator and practicing hypnotherapist has been
published. I am tempted to quote Farias contributions to the field of
hypnosis
from the abstract of this book available to the readers.
Faria experimented with hypnosis, a state he called lucid sleep, on
more than
five thousand individuals. He took a bold stand against Mesmers theory
of
magnetic fluid and believed that magnetic fits were not only
unnecessary to
healing, but potentially harmful. Farias approach was different from
Mesmer.
He used to keep his subjects in a state of calm, and he believed the
magnetic fit to be a state contrary to the normal development of
nature.
Faria had faced tremendous opposition from religious authorities who
believed
that commanding people to sleep was something accomplished through the
power of the
devil. Faria forcefully argued that hypnotic phenomena were
not due to magnetism, trickery or the devil but to the expectation and
co-operation of
the patient. He has shown that it is impossible to hypnotize
people who are not willing.
It was Abbe de Faria who discovered the suggestive method of inducing
and interrupting trance verbally. He observed and described a number
of ill-understood hypnotic phenomena and provided their psychological
explanations. He postulated that ordinary sleep and the hypnotic state
are
of similar nature (a theory that was later adopted by the School of
Nancy,
but has now been proven wrong).
This book is not available in Goa but the state government needs to
procure
many copies of this authentic and well-researched work and get the
translation rights in Konkani and Marathi so that the modern generation
is
introduced to this great Goan personality.
The Farias had supported and were sympathetic to the Pintos revolt in
1787
against the repressive Portuguese rule in Goa. They were most certainly
trying
to secure the French support for Tipu Sultan for the liberation of Goa by
establishing an Indo-French front. We have to also see the knee-jerk
reaction
of the British after they got a hint of such a possibility and sent their
garrison to
Goa to thwart an invasion. The Goans have no details of Abbe De Farias
role
during the French revolution and the violent, turbulent period that
followed.
The end of the father of hypnotism was in abject misery. He is still
remembered
in France and Portugal. Efforts were made by his Portuguese biographers
to
trace his tomb in Paris without any success.
It is shameful that at government level there is no public function to
commemorate
his 250th birth anniversary. Some individuals and institutions in Goa and
abroad
are trying to keep his memory alive. There is a demand to release a
postal stamp
in his honour. But this is not sufficient. Goans from all walks of life
and especially
the villagers of Colvale and Candolim need to rise to the occasion to pay
tributes
and keep his memory alive by organising yearlong activities.
----------------------------------------
The Navhind
Times 29/05/06 page
10
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------- At the FRIDAY BALCAO held on 21st April it was decided to promote & observe 30th May to 5th June 2006 as Goa Heritage Protection Week. If you have any ideas/suggestions write to Post Box 78, Mapusa Goa 403 507 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------- ================================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ================================================= |
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