I really like the apt Konkani description of "Inquisition disti podd'ta." Like
many phrases of Konkani, this hits the nail on the head, with the fewest
possible words.
Reading the Frenchman's book, there was nothing the Jesuits could do right.
All their success like pioneering spirit, education, conversions, protecting
the indigenous tribes in South America are condemned with 21st century
logic. Jesuit failures were rationalized from "As expected" to I can not
believe "as a saint (several decades later) he could not accomplish it"
(parenthesis mine).
Jean Lacouture does describe Francis Xavier's title of "Apostolic Nuncio" as
"more show than substance, as it happened" who "wearing a worn, patched
cassock, he crisscrossed Southeast Asia for nine long years". This does not
resemble Driscoll's (and other writers') version of a man who
dictated "Lisboa's colonial policy for half a century" (AFTER HE DIED) in Asia
and what specifically to do in Goa. But these versions could be more examples
of the "Black Legend".
In the above reference, Lacouture later quotes another Frenchman Andre
Bellesort report on SFX as "treating the oceans as others treat Lake Geneva."
My understanding, most travel Lake Geneva on the French- Swiss border in their
personal (often luxury) yacht. But what do the French and others care or know
about sailing the Indian Ocean in the 16-th century. Those who care would know
that the trans-ocean voyage relied on the mercy and good graces of a
knowledgeable captain of a commercial or fishing vessel, dodging and braving
pirates, monsoon rains, storms and hurricanes. Yes, likely the further quote
is another Black Legend by an earlier 'famous' French writer.
If Goans had written such, our response would be "saiba bogos" (god have
mercy). But Europeans keep repeating/ quoting the Black Legend, likely because
they do not know any better, or to keep the same old story-line. Then we
(Goans / Indians) quote the Europeans and call it "Goan authenticated history".
Regards, GL
------------- Frederick Noronha
a couple of videos above, excerpts from a speech by Premanand Lotlikar, who
complains in passing about the Black Legend ("Inquisition disti podd'ta") and
its impact on the debate in today's Goa.
------------- Gilbert Lawrence wrote
Frederick Noronha has from time to time referred to the Black Legend (which is
the traditional disparaging of Spain) by English writers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Legend
