Dear U.P. KAMATH, G.LAWRENCE, SELMA, DOM, I was in two minds, weather to comment or not. But could not resist G.L.'s complement on the looks of Mangalorean Catholic women. Just to remind you, G.L., they too are of Goan Saraswat stock, whose ancestors fled to the south in search of security and greener pasture. They struggled, prospered and then many perished under Tipu Sultan.
But the determined survivors prospered again. They kept their new faith all along, but also kept the age old culture, which was one of the reasons of their fleeing to the south and cast played an important role in the arranged marriages, hence the looks. Possibly rest of the good looking Goans have already left Goa and one can find them in most cities in India, and abroad. The migratory tendency is in our genes and from the banks of river Sarasvati, the ultimate goal seems to be western countries, where one can find them in abundance. Better paying jobs in the Gulf was/is a stepping stone for many such migrants. This tendency is rampant even within Kanara Catholic as well as Kanara Konkani Saraswats, until now that is. Now a days, excellent educational facilities and better paying jobs are readily available to qualified persons in India and probably the migratory trent may change to reverse gear. As for the Ghantis (I thought they were called so, because they came down beyond the western Ghats, but Dom clarified that it was because of the jingle of the small bells (we call them kinnkuLe) around the necks of the bullocks). But they were mere traders, continuing their age old tradition of barter system of bringing in their produce or local requirement and returning with their requirement. Now of course, money has replaced barter system. As for migrant labour, some one has to fill in and it is merely a matter of demand and supply. Earlier, we could get local labour to pluck ripe coconuts from our coconut plantations, now we pick what have fallen, because, the climbers have become scarce and/or the rate is not cost effective. Mangalore too has become saturated with Bijapuris and Siddis from Yellapur. I was surprised when I visited cities in Kerala years ago, to find that Electrical accessories business was monopolized by Punjabis!! A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY: Prior to Portuguese capture of Goa in the year 1510 by Alfonso da Albuquerque at the request of Timmoja and other prominent Hindu residents of Salsette, Goa was under the rule of Sultan of Bijapur, and Ela (Velha) was his second capital. Mlpe (Mahle Pai), of Verne village was the Sardesai (an important position in Goa) of Salcette. This sardesai wanted to be rescued from the Muslim tyranny by any means. Therefore, Mlpe joined hands with Timoja. It is likely that Timoja and Ragoba were in control of Goa under the Muslim ruler and some how Timoja fell out of favour and took up governorship of Honnavar, south of Goa that was under the control of either a Muslim ruler of Bhatkal (Ikkeri/king Shivappa Nayaka (1645-1660) had commerical dealing with a Muslim trader named Shah Bandar Isak on the western coast of Bedanur-probably Bhatkal) or the Rajah of Gersoppa. He owned a fleet of vessels and was doubling as a sea pirate. He knew of the recent voyages of the Portuguese, that he had not seen before. (Prior to that, only Arab dhows were seen sailing to and from Malabar coast via Anjediva island, close to the shore of Karwar and Honnavar). He is also known to be a naval officer in the service of Vijayanagar kingdom, but it is unlikely that Vijanagara ever had a navy as they depended on Arabs and later Portuguese for the delivery of Arabian horses. There is mention of da Gama coming across the armada of Timoja earlier and that Timoja was sent as far as Hormuz to meet Albuquerque to convince him of the benefits of acquiring Goa for his trade post rather than invading Hormuz. As Albuquerque's factors were not safe in Malabar, he may have finally seen the benefit of invading Goa to set up a trade post as well as a naval base to oversee all the trade and ships plying through the route of Anjediva and Goa. He also had plans to sail farther south from Malabar, to Ceylon, Malacca and China. So finally convinced, Albuquerque, with assistance from Timoja and his nephew Malerao invaded and successfully conquered the not so well defended Goa Velha in February 1510. The Muslim defenders surrendered in order to save their lives as well as their women and property, but the Hindu residents gave him a heroes welcome as liberators of Goa. Albuquerque concentrated on reinforcing the defence fortifications and appointed Timoja and Malerao for the civil administration of the conquered territory. Later the Bijapur sultan sent a large army and munition to retake Goa. Totally outnumbered, Albuquerque retreated to his ships and had a tough time spending the whole monsoon season in the rough Arabian sea, with no reinforcements in sight. As the monsoon started to recede, the sea became calmer and he set sail to Malabar, to reinforce his fleet and take even Malabar Nair fighters. Here, he was aided by additional armada that arrived from Lisbon, and arrived near Goa. Timoja too sent few ships along with fighters and his nephew Malerao, (as he was busy with wedding but promised to join them later) and in November 1510 Albuquerque laid siege on Goa and defeated the Muslim defenders and took over Goa Ela or Goa Velha. The enemy women were later converted and given in marriage to his soldiers with fabulous gifts of land, house and trade concessions. In accordance with the peace treaty with Adel Shah, the Portuguese were allowed to keep the island of Goa lying between the rivers Mandovi and Zuari. But they had to withdraw from Salcette, Bardesh etc. Mlpe who did not expect this, knew that the Sultan would not pardon him for having invited and assisted the Portuguese. So he prudently decided to leave Salcette and settle in Kochi where the Portuguese had established a trade post. Over the years, his Daijees*, Soirees* etc joined him. For about two centuries the decendents of Mlpe family were the community leaders in Kochi. Portuguese too held this family in great esteem, as the family could assist them in business transactions. It may be noted that the Konkani's under the leadership of Mlpe were totally autonomous and the king of Kochi had no jurisdiction or control over them. The main reason being, they were deemed to be the Portuguese protégés and were insignificant in numbers to draw the king's attention. However, this changed and the king began to impose on them when they became successful traders, rich and influencial. The establishment of the Kochi Thirumala temple was a turning point in this direction. In a Madras government proceeding dated 19th August, 1858 regarding ownership of the deity of the Kochi Thirumala Devaswom, mentions that the population of the Gowd Saraswath Brahmins in the Kochi as 5763 and about 4 thousand in Travancore and rose to about 10,000 by the middle of the 19th century. Without doubt thousands may have fled Goa during the 16th century for various reasons, but only a trickle reached Kochi. The Mlpe family did not migrate to Kochi as refugees but as assistants to the Portuguese, as traders, commission agents, merchants, accountants etc. (This ie condensed from the article by P.G. Kamath in 'Saraswathvani.)' * Daijee* family with same last (family) name. * Soiree** relatives. Regards M. DMello.
