Because of the wild accusations that the non-historian Gilbert has made against the Goan historian Teotonio De Souza concerning the latter's Deccan Herald Interview I had asked Gilbert to provide us with specific evidence for the following:
1. That Teotonio R. De Souza misrepresented historical facts or gave us biased information regarding the inquisition in his answers to the interviewer. 2. That the sources that Gilbert is referring to for his own information regarding Goan history are genuine scholarly historical sources, and that they are unbiased. 3. That Gilbert himself does not have any conflicts of interest or biases of his own (or declare them if he does e.g. membership in any society or organization which has a stake in having the historical conclusions be slanted a certain way). This is especially important because Gilbert has made such a demand of Teotoniobab, and would not want himself to be perceived as a hypocrite. Now instead of providing this evidence, I notice that in this new post Gilbert continues to resort to innuendo against Teotonio De Souza. What is worse is that this time he lobs the following fabricated charge against Teotoniobab without mentioning his name: "Yet what is outrageous is to link SFX (concerns about colonial abuses) as leading to the abuses of the inquisition; and further using SFX as the reason for the need of an Inquisition museum in Goa." .....Gilbert Lawrence In contrast to the above slander, what Teotoniobab actually said is this: "All research related to the Inquisition that played havoc in the lives of Goans needs to be welcomed. The fears are generally unfounded. The Inquisition was not a religious institution, but essentially a political institution for disciplining all colonial subjects. I have more than once proposed the creation of an Inquisition Museum that could be a wonderful instrument of education and would even add to the income of cultural tourism. I think only a prolonged debate over this issue could clear the minds from unwarranted fears and sectarian prejudices." .....Teotonio R. De Souza Please note that no mention is made of SFX in connection with the need for an Inquisition Museum. The need for the museum is simply and rightly stated as educational and cultural. No sensible person should object to that. But Gilbert appears to have problem with such a museum, as is evident in the following twit meant to propagate another smear against Teotoniobab: "Living in the West, I see a lot of speculation (a.k.a. 'fresh thinking') by those trying to create a niche for their work; which is so important for academic funding. The inquisition museum in Goa is one such "innovative idea." .....Gilbert Lawrence Now tell me why would a man who claims to be a history buff be against a history museum in Goa, and why would he use such a suggestion to question the motives of a historian? I ask Gilbert to correct me if I am wrong about his opposition to such a museum, and to justify his opposition if I am right. And once again, I request him to provide specific evidence for his wild speculations and public accusations against a Goan historian by providing actual quotes, and revealing his own sources and conflicts of interest. If he cannot do so it would be his intellectual and moral responsibility to retract his irresponsible public statements in this thread. Cheers, Santosh --- On Tue, 5/4/10, Gilbert Lawrence <[email protected]> wrote: > > I am responding to a point because you wrote it twice, > (see below) and as you edit historical articles; on which > likely you "pass mustard." > > SFX's letters to the king in Lisbon and superiors in > Rome, clearly reflect SFX frustrations with the Portuguese > colonial administration for: > > 1. Colonial Govt. corruption. > 2. Lack of enforcing any legal and moral codes on the > colonialists. > 3. Exploitation of natives. > > The response and support SFX received in reply, from those > to whom he repeatedly wrote, was one of empty-lip service. > Please feel free to contradict me with quotes and > references. This may partly explain Xavier's short stay in > Goa. > > Now you (and others) suggest SFX's letters had a greater > impact after SFX died, than when he was alive. At best, I > would say, SFX's letters were used by the powers-that-be to > further ones agenda, just like his letters are used > today. At worse, claiming that SFX letters were "signposts > for decision-makers in Rome, Lisbon and Goa for at least > half a century after his death" is pure hogwash and wild > speculation .... unless you have govt. documents (which > references SFX letters) which can support this claim. > > Yet what is outrageous is to link SFX (concerns about > colonial abuses) as leading to the abuses of the > inquisition; and further using SFX as the reason for the > need of an Inquisition museum in Goa. > > As a history buff I would look at events in 1555-1560, > specifically at the imminent dangers in 1560, to the > causes(s) for introducing the Inquisition; rather than > relying of documents/ letters received 17 years earlier, > which could well have been gathering dust. > > As Goans we know that Teo is doing the best he can. Hence > we give him the benefit of the doubt. With what you have > written twice, Teo's writings are more aimed to please > Western academic speculative interest. Living in the West, > I see a lot of speculation (a.k.a. 'fresh thinking') by > those trying to create a niche for their work; which is so > important for academic funding. The inquisition museum in > Goa is one such "innovative idea." > > Saying goes, "We may have been born at night; but we were > not been born LAST NIGHT." I hope we can see responses to > questions to you in several posts. Those responses should > be easy for you with "extensive reading occasioned by an > editing job I was asked to do involving historical > writing." > > Regards, GL >
