Hartman's essay, as usual, is thought-provoking and well argued. Not to detract from the wider point, I would just like to comment on a matter of detail, which Hartman writes about below: the Mith Gaudas (Mithgaudas or Mith Gavdas, spelt in various ways by various authors) have nothing in common with the Gauda or Gavda aboriginal population of Goa, despite a similarity in their community names.
The latter are considered Goa's tribal population. The former are a land-owning, dominant caste group in parts of Goa, including Bardez. FN > infamous inquisition in Goa probably > forced my Gavde ancestors (Goa's scheduled tribe) > to convert to Catholicism. > Portugal's liberal colonial practices may also not have > percolated to those in my mother's side of the family. They > were known as 'Mitt' or 'Salt' Gavde because they farmed the > salt pans, taking salt on the backs of buffaloes across the > Ghats into Maharashtra.
