129-B, MIG Flats, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110027 (India)
ATROCITIES ON HINDUS BY CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IN GOA
The hospitality, generosity and magnanimity of the Hindus has awfully been exploited, and often been betrayed by the British, French and the Portuguese who entered in India as traders, proved enemies, and eventually became rulers of her different areas for different periods.
1. Historical Background of Goa
Goa, was known down the ages as Gomanchala, Gomanta, Goparashtra, and Gaurashtra. It was a part of India at least from the days of the Maurayas in the 3rd, Century B.C. till the rule ofAdil Shahis.
The Portuguese came to India with a Cross in one hand, and a sword in the other. However, the genesis of their church in India begins when Pope Nicholas V (1447 -1455) who proclaimed two Bulls on 18th June, 1452 conferring upon the "King of Portugal and his successors full authority to invade, conquer, subdue and subject all kingdoms and territories of the unbelievers, and to reduce these peoples to perpetual subjugation as a sign of the triumph of the Catholic faith over its enemies". These were followed by another Bull on 8th January 1455 authorising, "the King of Portugal and his successors to found in all these provinces conquered or yet to be conquered, churches, monasteries and other places of pious usage, and to convey thither ecclesiastical persons whether religious or secular or members of the recognised mendicant orders". Again on June 21, 1481, Pope Sixtus IV (1471 -1484) not only confirmed all the other privileges granted to the King of Portugal and his successors by the previous Popes, but added that "Spiritual power and authority from Cape Bojador and Nam as far as the indices belongs to Portugal in perpetuity". Finally it was Pope Alexander VI (1492 - 1503) who issued the famous Bull, inter caitera, on 28th June, 1493, dividing the world between Spain and Portugal. Acordingly India alongwith whole of Africa, South East Asia and the Far-East fell to the share of the Portuguese under the Padroada system, i.e. right of patronage granted by the Pope to the King of Portugal. (Goel, Papacy p. 58-59). So after this date, the conversion of the Indians, and particularly the Hindus became one of the objectives of the Portuguese policy besides trade and political power.
Hence, in view of Pope's mandate, the king Manual (1496-1521) organised an expedition to India under Vasco da Gama as Commander of Eastern Expedition who sailed with two ships into Calicut, on 17th May, 1498, and sought the cooperation of the King jamorin to establish trade here. Vasco was given warm reception by King Jamorin but the merchandise Gama brought could not be sold here, and before his departure the King asked for the customs duty to be paid as per the rules of the Port. But Gama refused to pay; and this embittered the relations of Gama with the Jamorin. (Panikkar p 37-38). In this context, Goel writes :
"Vasco da Gama bombarded Calicut when Jamorin refused to be dictated by him. He has plundered the ships bringing rice to the city and cut off the ears, noses, and hands of the crews. The Zamorin had sent to him a Brahman envoy after securing Portuguese safe-conduct. Vasco da Gama had cut off the nose, ears and hands of the Brahman and strung them round his neck together with a palm-leaf on whcih a message was conveyed to the Indian King that he could cook and eat a curry made from his envoy's limbs". (Goel Papacy p. 53).
However, later on, as per the request of the Portuguese, the Rajah of Cannanore permitted them to establish their factory at Cochin. But taking advantage of internal frictions of the Hindu Rajahs, they started to spread their political wings. At this time, Goa was under the rule of Adil Shah (1488 - 1510) of Bijapur, and the Hindus were suffering too much from the tyranny of his officers. So they wanted to get rid of him, and sought the help of Portuguese, in exchange of some annual gifts etc. But Affonso de Albuquerque (1453 -1515), after defeating the Adil Shah's army, in which six thousand muslims were killed, took full control of Goa himself, on 25th November, 1510 (Priolkar, p 63). He informed his King thus," I burnt the city and put all to the sword-whenever we could find them, no Moor was spared, and we filled the mosques with them and set them on fire " (IBC p.62).
Thus, within a period of 12 years, the Portuguese seized political power, in 1510, and made Goa - the head quarter of the Projected Christian Empire in the East. Regarding Portuguese empire, Panikkar says "It should first be kept in mind that the Portuguese had at no time any empire in India". They had some fortresses established in Goa, Daman, Diu and Cochin from where they controlled the sea trade. But on land they were powerless".
Condition of the Hindus in Goa before the
Portuguese Rule : Before the advent of Catholic Missionary activities in Goa, the condition of the Hindus, as described by Tome Pires, a Portuguese apothecary who stayed in Cochin between 1511 -1515, was as follows :There are a great many heathens in this Kingdom. They have beautiful temples of their own in this Kingdom.... There are some very honoured stocks among these Brahmans.....They are clever prudent, learned in their religion. A Brahman would not become a Mohammedan (even) if he were made a King" ( Pires p. 58-59; Priolkar p.114).
About Goa, Gonsalves writes, "Goathen (late 16 - late 17th cent.) was the centre of vast trade between China and the Dutch East Indies, the Persian Gulf and Arabia, and the slave trade from Africa, all negotiated by the owners and captains of the Portuguese Caravels".... In 1542, it is estimated that the population of old Goa was two lakhs, bigger than that of London at that time and comparable to Lisbon". (H.T.Dec. 4, 1994).
Treatment of the Hindu Rajas towards the Native
Christians : During this period, there were some native Christians of Syrian Church here. Panikkar narrates, how freely they enjoyed religious liberty under Hindu Kings before the arrival of Portuguese, "the Christians of Syrian Church had been treated generously by Hindu Kings who allowed them to live without any molestation or interference"... They lived in religious matters under their own Metrans. And yet, though the Hindu Rulers had treated them like this, at the very opportunity they hastened to disclaim their allegiance and accept the sovereignty of the king of Portugal"... Kerala Pazhama (p. 24) gives detailed information about their visit to Gama"... The ancient records and insignia which their Chief possessed were also handed over to Gama". They even suggested to him "that with their help he should conquer the Hindu Kingdoms and invited him to build a fortress for this purpose in Cranganore. This was the recompense which the Hindu Rajahs received for treating with liberality and kindness the Christians in their midst". (Panikkar p 184 -185).2. Religious and other Policies of the Portuguese
The main policies of the Portuguese were: (1) to consolidate political power in India, (2) to strengthen the Church, and (3) to command complete monopoly of the trade in India.
Immediately after Vasco da Gama returned back from his first expedition to India, the King of Portugal crowned himself "Lord of the Conquest, navigation and commerce of Ethopia, Arabia, Persia and India", even though Portugal possessed not a patch of territory east of the Cape of Good Hope (Goel, Papacy p.83). Hence, as per their religious policy a Vicar General was sent immediately to Cochin to look after the Mission work, who moved to Goa when it was captured in 1510. In 1514, Goa was under Diocese of Funchal in Medeira, and in 1532, Miguel Vaz, a Franciscan friar was appointed as the Vicar General in India. He requested the King to enforce the principle of cufus regio efus religio i.e. whoever possesses the region, proclaims the religion. This new policy needed for its implementation a Bishop, "inspired by the Holy Sprit". Hence, a Diocese or a Bishopric was created in Goa, in 1534, and in Cranganore, Malabar, in 1572 to accelerate the missionary activities.
In order to execute the proselytisation activities, the Protuguese hired missionaries from the religious orders of Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans and Augustinians who worked hand in glove with the Portuguese Governors. The number of Franciscans increased from 16 in 1525 to 600 in 1635, that of Jesuits from 349 in 1584 to 400 in 1639; and 129 Augustinians sailed from Lisbon in 1572. Franciscans and Dominicans were confined to Malabar and were more interested in demolishing HinduTemples, building Churches and burning heretics and renegrades than in winning converts in places where Portuguese could provide no protection. The Augustinians chose Bengal where the Portuguese pirates dominated the sea and river waters from their bases in Chittagong. The Jesuits were more enterprising and established their Missions at Alleppy, in Malabar, in 1570, sent the first Mission to Akbar; and attempted to convert him first, and then Jahangiri (Goel, Papacy p.66), hoping that after Akbar's conversion the whole India can be converted by sword.
Jesuits always believed in forcible conversions, at that time and even now (see Jesuits Oath, on page 30). A great Jesuit Valignano -an organiser of Jesuit Missions in the East, wrote, in 1582, to his Father General at Rome that "the native needed to be treated with a stick and the use of force in order to make something out of him" (Indian Church History Review, June 1985, p.13).
To consolidate political power, initially (1510-1538) the policy was to build fortresses along the sea coast and hold the strategic centres from where they could command the sea and destroy the power of the moor - the muslims on the sea. In order to dominate sea power. Portuguese adopted piracy on the sea. Panikkar writes thus, 'Piracy by Portuguese officials was rife on the sea and the men who took it never honoured the cartas of the Governors." Further, the "Kerala Pazhama" describes the atrocities of the Portuguese on the sea as below:
Besides these cruelties penetrated on the land, the Portuguese were also responsible for unmentionable atrocities on the sea. The Feringi Ships alone did not keep the peace. The Mahomedian ships were the special objects of their fury. Every ship had to carry safe-conduct issued by the Portuguese captain. But even with that they were not safe. The Portuguese seamen demanded heavy bribes and baksheesh, and if whatever they asked for was not given, the ships would be confiscated". (Panikkar p 94 - 95).
In order to have strong political power Albuquerque always demanded the King for more money and men. "He wanted 3000 effective soldiers and with that he offered to place the entire trade of India in the hands of Portugal'. In order to avoid total dependence on Portuguese soldiers, he decided "on the plan of making his Portuguese men marry the Indian women whom he took as prisoners". Further to strengthen the military position of the Portuguese, "he permitted only the Christians to live within the fortresses, and in Cochin, all non-Christians were expelled from within the fortress" (Panikkar, p 91).
Another policy of the Portuguese was to deal directly with the small princes and chiefs and to conciliate them by money gifts (Panikkar p 205).
Simultaneously Albuquerque was a firm believer in the need to convert the Hindus to Christianity, and in a letter (20.12.1514), addressed to the King of Portugal, he gave an account of his eforts to convert the King of Cochin (Silva Rego Vbl1. p 228). But after the death of Albuquerque (16.12.1515) the missionary activities and persecution and conversion of the Hindus were much more accelerated. In 1534, Goa was raised to the status of a Bishopric, and in 1539, the King D. Joao III (1521-1557) asked Ignatius Loyola to suggest names of two members of the Society of Jesus for the Missionary work in India, and the choice fell on Simon Rodrigues and Bobadilla. But the later fell ill, and his name was replaced with that of Francis de Xavier.
Xavier's Anti-Brahmanism Movement
: : Thus Xavier was sent as the Royal Inspector of the Missions in the East with the right to correspond directly with the king and also made him anApostolic Nuncio, a post equivalent to Pope's ambassadors to emperors, to the Islands of the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Indian ocean as well as to the provinces and places of India this side of the Ganges and beyond the Cape of Good Hope. He was a hard core Catholic, an anti - reformist, anti-Brahman, and was one of the six pioneers who founded the Society of Jesus on 15th August, 1534.Xavier landed in Goa on 6th May, 1542, with a resolve of 'uprooting paganism'from the soil of India and planting Christianity in its place. And so all plans of persecution and oppressions of the Hindus came along with him. All religious policies and procedures of forcible and fraudulent conversions and demolitions of the Hindu temples and idols were undertaken under his guidance and missionary zeal.
Francis Xavier was a pioneer of anti-Brahmanism which was adopted later on as a major plank in the missionary propaganda during British Rule as evident below. Lord Minto, then Governor General of India (1807 -12) enclosed some propaganda material used by the Missionaries to British Parliament, and mentioning one tract, he wrote, "The remainder of this tract seems to aim principally at a general massacre of the Brahmans" (David p.85).
Thus Xavier's first priority, in India, therefore, was "to free the poor Hindus from the stranglehold of the Brahmans and destroy the places where evil spirits were worshipped. So Xavier made anti-Brahmanism as the central theme of his missionary activities. He wrote, about Brahmans thus, "these are the most perverse people in the world...they never tell the truth, but think of nothing but how to tell subtle lies and to deceive the simple and ignorant people...the poor simple people do exactly what the Brahmans tell them... If there were no Brahmans in the area, all Hindus would accept conversion to our faith" (Stephen Neill p. 146; Goel, Papacy p.64).
After a short stay in Goa, he moved to Coromandal Coast, in October 1542 where Parvasa fisherman community though converted to Christianity during 1518 to 1530, used to worship Hindu gods and goddesses secretly. Xavier resented this as he believed that Christinaity will not spread here by preachings and soft means alone, and so he adopted various tough measures.
3. Establishment of Inquisition in Goa
It was Francis Xavier who planned to establish the Inquisition in Goa like that established earlier in Spain and Portugal of which he had sufficient experience of persecuting thousands of Jews and Moslems. And so, on May 16,1545, he requested the King of Portugal to establish Inquisition in Goa thus: "The second necessity for the Christians is that Your Majesty establish the Holy Inquisition, because there are many who live according to the Jewish Law, and according to the Mohammedan sect, without any fear of God or shame of the world. And since there are many (Hindus author) who are spread all over the fortresses, there is the need of the Holy Inquisition, and of many preachers, Your Majesty should provide such necessary things for your loyal and faithful subjects in India". (Wicki, p. 229 - 230).
The hectic activities of the Jesuits, followed by the above letter, led to the establishment of Goa Inquisition which caused innumerable atrocities and oppressions on the Hindus, and particularly on the Brahmans. Though the Goa Inquisition was asked in 1545, it could not be established immediately due to differences between the Pope and the Portuguese King D. Joao III, who was opposed to it; and so the same could be established only in 1560, after his death in 1557. Though the Inquisition was housed in an old palace of the earlier rulers of Goa, its jurisdiction was extended all over the Portuguese possessions in India and the East.
What is Inquisition ?
The concept of Inquisition was mooted out by the Catholic Missionaries in the early thirteenth Century, and in 1229 in the reign of St. Louis, and under the pontificate of Gregory IX, a Code was formulated, and additional provisions were made in 1242. It was adopted in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and India.
Inquisition can be defined as an institution organised to detect and punish the heretics and others guilty of ofences against the Catholic Church. It is a ruthless machinery of systematic persecution of non-Catholics in active cooperation of the Church and the State. It is oficially styled 'Holy Office'. How holy it is, can be witnessed from the records of atrocities and genocides of innocent non-catholics - the world over
The story of the Inquisition wherever it was established, is a dismal record of callousness, barbarism and, cruelty; tyranny and injustice;
espionage and blackmail, avarice and corruption, repression of though and culture, and promotion of obscurantism. In Spain, the Tribunal started functioning on January 2, 1481; and within four days, four persons were burnt to death, and it has burnt 2300 persons and imposed various other penalties on seventeen thousand people in the very first year of work i.e. in 1481 (Herculano, p.84), and in 1483, during the regime of Thomas de Torquemeda, 8800 persons were burnt at the stake, and 96504 were punished in diferent ways (Prescott, p.380 -384; Priolkar, p10).Similarly the Portuguese Inquisition started functioning in Lisbon, in October, 1541, and in one day 300 persons were burnt in the Church of Bom Jesus, Lisbon. The carnage continued for 3 days and more than two thousand persons were perished therein (Herculano, p.177).
After the establishment of Inquisition, in Goa, in 1560, all the Hindus, Jews, Muslims and even the new converts were tortured, terrorised and intimidated for the next two and half centuries by all possible inhuman ways and means to promote Christianity and to implement strictly the tenets of Roman Catholic Church, and to abandon their own religious and cultural practices. Here, the most suferers were the Hindus, and particularly the Brahmans, and rich goldsmiths. They were persecuted and humiliated by demolitions of their temples, forcible conversions, enacting anti-Hindu laws, social discriminations, economic punishments and physical and mental tortures. In brief, the Inquisition played a vital role in the formulation of implementation of anti-Hindu Laws, the religious policies and committing atrocities on the Hindus, in Goa.
Though, a printing press was established in Goa, in 1556, but none of the books printed upto 1674, had any reference of the activities of Inquisition. Due to this secrecy data relating to the number of cases tried, types of sentences imposed, the number of persons who died in prisons before or during trials as a result of torture or were burnt alive at the stake, are unfortunately not available. However, Joao Delgado Figueira. Inquisitor of Goa has reported that during 1561 to 1623, 3800 cases were tried (General Calendar of the Inquisition of Goa MS in Biblioteca Nacional of Lisbon; Priolkar p. 179).
But, according to Baibo (Vol. I p.323), during 1561 to 1774,16172 cases were tried by the inquisition. But no record is available how many of these were burnt, punished to death or sentenced to diferent periods. The activities of Goa Inquisition ceased for a while, in 1774, but it was again revived in 1778 during the reign of Queen D. Maria; and was, later on, totally abolished, in 1812. "On June 16, 1812, the Prince Regent of England informed the Viceroy Conde de Sarzedas, that he had decided to abolish the Inquisition of Goa for all time"(Priolkar p.184).
Why no records of Inquisition available ? : It is but a natural enquiry why the records of Goa Inquisition are not available today even to the Government of Goa. The fact is that in 1774, when Inquisition was suspended, all important records were sent to Potugal; but again these records were returned to Goa in 1779, when the Inquisition was revived. But when the Inquisition was finally abolished in 1812, the Viceroy, Conde de Sarzedas expressed his views to the King about the dispoal of these records thus;
"I considered it was proper to take all these precautionary measures in respect of these records as I am informed that in them exist papers relating to all the suits tried by the Holy Office since its inception; and if they are not guarded with all care, therein would be found motives to defame, even falsely, all the families in the state, and these would provide occasions to feed the enmities and intrigues which so much abound in this country".........."As I am persuaded that it is not expedient that they should be seen by any person, it appears to me that it would be appropriate to burn them".
In reply (Sep 27,1813) it was said, "it does not appear wise to burn them without some kind of review". The task of selecting the important papers was assigned to Fr. Tomas de Noronha. But Anconico de Baiao - the author of A Inquisicao de Goa writes "that no indication can be found that these selected papers were ever sent to Portugal, nor can any trace of these papers be found in Goa" (Priokar p. 33-34). This is how the information on the details of atrocities on the Hindus were not available, and their access was denied to the future scholars.
4. Anti
Hindu LawsImmediately after the establishment of Portuguese Rule in Goa, a number of anti-Hindu Laws were enacted, and most of them, during the Goa Inquisition period (1560 to 1812), and were strictly implemented. But surprisingly, some of them were continued till the Portuguese territories were liberated by the Government of India on 19th December 1961. Some of the such laws were as follows :
I. Banishment of the Hindus : (i) The Brahmans and goldsmiths were the most tortured lot. On April 2, 1560, the Viceroy ordered that the Brahmans should be thrown out of Island of Goa and the lands and fortresses of the Portuguese King.
(ii) Again on 8th June, 1560, the persons of goldsmiths caste were ordered for banishing who had their families and properties outside the Portuguese territories unless they brought back their families and properties within a period of 10 days (Priolkar p.116).
(iii) Further, on November 27, 1563, it was ordered that all those Brahmans whose names were given by the Archbishop with the exception of those who tilled the land with their own hands, physicians, carpenters blacksmiths, shopkeepers or collectors of the royal revenue, were asked to sell their property within one month and leave the territories (Priolkar p.117).
(iv) On February 7, 1575, it was ordered by the Governor that if any Brahman who had been expelled on the ground that his presence was prejudicial to the interests of Christianity made an unauthorised entry, his estate would be confiscated, and used to provide clothes to new - Christians (Priolkar p.117).
(v) Similarly, the third Concilio Provincial held in 1585, passed the resolution that there should be no Brahman in Portuguese territories and should be banished alongwith the physicians and other infidels who are prejudicial to Christianity. Further, the Archbishop should obtain information annually regarding Brahmans and other infidels who might be prejudicial to the conversion to Christianity so that they may be punished.
II. Ban Against the Performance of Hindu Rites and Ceremonies Marriages : (j) On March 13, 1613 and again on 31.1.1620, to restrict Hindu marriages, the viceroy ordered that "no Hindu of whatever nationality or status, he may be can or shall perform marriages in this city of Goa, nor in the islands or adjacent territories of His Majesty under pain of a fine of 1000 Xerafins, one-third of which would be paid to the accuser and two-thirds applied to the expenses of His Majesty's Navy" (Cunha Rivara, VI p.201, Priolkar p. 118 -119).
(ii) However, lateron, the Hindus were permitted to celebrate marriages with restrictions. In 1679, the Viceroy permitted the Hindus to celebrate marriages in their houses behind closed doors and without Bottos, i.e. Hindu priests and other ministers of the temple performing sacrifices and other Hindu rites. These restrictive Laws made the Hindu marriages almost impossible (Cunha Rivara, Vol. p.1286 - 87; Priolkar p.119).
Sacred Thread Ceremony : (i) In 1585, the Third Concilio Provincial, recommended to the King that Hindus who wore Sacred Threads should be forbidden to do so or to initiate their sons in wearing sacred threads (Priolkar, p.122).
(ii) In 1640, the Jesuits had forbidden the Hindus to wear Yagyopavitam i.e. sacred thread. However, the thread ceremony of the young sons of the Hindus had to be performed outside the Portuguese territories (Priolkar p.121).
(iii) In 1680, at the instance of Conselho Ultramarino, the ceremony of keeping vigil (night spent in prayer) and giving feasts at the birth of children was forbidden (Priolkar p.122).
III. Ban on the Hindu Priests :
On December, 1567, the King D. Sebastiao passed the Law that there should not exist any Hindu preachers, Joshies, Joguis Sorcerers, Gurous of temples or Muslim Kajis or any other person related to the religion of the Hindus and leave within one month failing which they would be held captives for service in the docks (Cunha Rivara Vol. IV p.69, Priolkar p.123).IV. Compelling the Hindus to listen Christian Doctrines
: On December 4,1567, and also again in 1715, it was ordered that "all Hindus should come with their families to places assigned for the purpose to listen to the preachings of the Holy Gospel" (Cunha Rivara Vol.VI p.19 - 66; Priolkar p.123).V. Depriving the Hindus of their Rights and Privileges
: On December 11, 1573, the Governor deprived the Hindus of their rights and privileges as Gaun cares i.e. original members of village community and also their right to receive Jonoa i.e.share in the income of village community.VI. Discrimination against the Hindus :
On December 15, 1572, the Viceroy ordered that the Hindu Pandits and Physicians should not move in the city on horse back or in andores - a kind of sedan chair or palki under pain of a fine and loss of horse, palki etc. (Priolkar p.140).VII. Hindus Prohibited to Employ Christian Labourers
: (i) In 1731, the Viceroy ordered that the Christian boias, i.e. bearer of Palki, should not carry the Hindus. The Archbishop actually excommunicated Christian boias who carried two famous Hindu businessmen (Priolkar p.141).(ii) The Christian agriculturer labourers were forbidden to work in the fields owned by the Hindus, and the Hindu land owners were prohibited to employ Christian labourers. The offenders were punished (Baiao p.279 - 288; Priolkar p.141).
VIII. Hindus Deprived of Employment and Means of Livelihood
: (i) On June, 1557, the King D. Joao ordered that: i(i) No government official should utilise the services of the Brahmans or other infidels; and contrary to this the official will loose job, and the Brahman will become captive and loose all property; ii) All jobs be given to the Christians and not to the Hindus; and iii) All Mucamdams of all the offices shall be Christians and this work should be given to the Christians, and not to any Hindu or infidel. This order was repeated in March 1559.(ii) Again on April 3, 1582, the Royal decree was re-issued, that no Hindu whatever be his status or condition, should hold public ofice. In the same tone in January 12, 1591, the King emphasised that "no officials should utilize the services of the Brahmans or other Hindus, nor enter the houses of the latter nor speak or have dealings with the later directly or through the third parties under pains of being suspended from their offices (Priolkar p.124 -127).
(iii) In 1567, it was decided by the Ecclesiastical Council that no christian was to engage infidel doctors or even be shaved by an infidel barber (Priolkar p.187).
IX. Social Descrimination
: Francois Pyrard states that the Indians and even the Christians were not admitted into the Royal Hospital of Goa, and there was a separate hospital for Indian Christians and Indian women (Priolkar p.145).X. Hindus Denied to live in Portuguese Fortresses :
Priolkar (P. 91) writes that even in the Portuguese fortresses of Cochin, Cannonore and Quilon, none but, Christians were allowed to live within them.XI. Racial Discrimination :
On February 1,1718, the King impressed upon the Viceroy that while the laws in regard to giving preference to new Christians in appointments in Government jobs should be carefully observed and, greatest care should be taken to see that the Indian Christians were not given preference over or equalised with the Portuguese in any manner.Not only this, even in services if a Portuguese qualifies for promotion in 8 years, the Indian Christian, should be in 12 years, as there should be a difference between them and the Portuguese (Priolkar p.144).
XII. Burning and Censorship of Indigenous Literature :
In order to suppress the knowledge of Dharma and Culture of the Hindus and exterminate the indigenous literature in Marathi, Konkani or any local dialect, various repressive measures were adopted (Priolkar p.176 -177) as given below :(i) Special officers known as Qualificadores were appointed to examine the books before printing and also those printed books brought from outside to see that they contained nothing against the Catholic Faith.
(ii) A list of prohibited books was maintained; and according to the Inquisition Manual, it was considered a crime to possess and read the prohibited books.
(iii) The boxes containing prohibited books were carried in procession during the Auto da Fe and burnt.
(iv) All Sanskrit and Marathi books, whatever may be their subject matter, were seized and burnt on the suspicion that they might deal with idolatry.
(v) This practice was adopted by the Portuguese even before Inquisition and even the European literature, in any language, was taken with suspicion.
(vi) Book shops were raided to check whether they contained prohibited books or those containing anything against Catholicism.
(vii) If a person who owned a library after his death, his books were used to be examined.
(viii) To print a new book in Marathi, Konkani or any other local dialect, the printer had to obtain a license from the Inquisitors and such licences, number etc. were printed on the book published in Goa, in the seventeenth century.
(ix)To promote Portuguese language, the Portuguese established colleges at Angamali and Cochin for educating Malabar Christians in
the Roman Faith and also the knowledge of Portuguese and Latin languages.(x) The Inquisitors wanted to exterminate the indigenous languages and replace them with Portuguese. In this respect Cunha Rivara writes in his "Historical Essay on Konkani Language" thus :
" The Inquisition can not be absolved from a large share in the persecution of the Vernacular; and what is more, a larger part in the ruin of the Portuguese Empire, in Asia. But we confine ourselves to what concerns the language. The whole system of the Inquisition aimed not only at the extirpation of superstitious and idolatrous beliefs, but also of innocent usages and customs retaining even a trace of the Asiatic Society, which existed previous to the conquest by the Portuguese. Consequently, the language was involved in this general proscription". (Priolkar p. 177).
5. DEMOLITION OF THE HINDU TEMPLES
The Christian missionaries do not lag behind the Islamic iconoclastic zeal aided by frenzied mobs. The missionaries had destroyed thousands of non-christian temples and places of worship all over the Europe, West Asia and North Africa. In case of Goa, the Portuguese friars and priests had been desecrating and destroying the Hindu temples since their arrival. Since the Portuguese captured power in India, in 1510, Andre Corsali stationed in Cochin writes that an ancient and magnificent temple on the island of Divari had been demolished in 1515, and its sculptures defaced. (Goel, St. Francis Xavier p.8).
The movement for the demolition of the Hindu temples, and other vestiges of Hindu religion was vigorously initiated by Minguel Vaz and Diago Borba after 1540. Most of the temples of Goa, Divar. Chorada and Jua region were destroyed upto 1540, and in 1541, a policy of "Regour of Mercy" was decided to be followed in Goa. In this year, after the demolition of temples, various leaders of the Hindu Community were made to agree of, "their free volition that the income of the lands belonging to the temples which had been destroyed might be applied to the upkeep of Christian Churches and Christian Missionaries.............. It was also resolved that the income should, in future, be applied towards and donated to the chapels built in this island and also to defray the expenses of the confraternity of the converts to the faith"(Priolkar p.69).
As a result of this policy, the St. Paul's College was maintained out of the income of the Hindu temples which had been destroyed" (Silva Rego Vol. 3.p.14).
After the arrival of St. Xavier, in 1542, the movement for temple demolition was further accelerated as he was an instigator and a model for the demolition of the Hindu temples. He noticed that though some Hindus, baptised earlier, were still secretly worshipping these "evil spirits", he reacted strongly. According to the 'History of Christianity in India' his reaction was : "when the boys informed him that some had made an idol, he went with them and had it broken into a thousand pieces. If inspite of all his advice someone persisted in making idols, he would have punished by the Patangatis (heads of Parva villages) or banished to another village. One day when he heard that idols had been worshipped in the house of a Christian, he ordered the hut to be burnt down as a warning to others" (Silva Rego Vol. 1 .p.158).
Again in Malabar Coast, he initiated an iconoclastic campaign, and according to the same history book (p. 186), "when the whole village was baptised, Xavier would get to pull down their village temple and break into small pieces the idols it contained". The pleasure, Xavier, used to derive from demolition of the Hindu temples can be seen in his own words. On February 8, 1545, he wrote to the Society of Jesus thus: "Following the baptisms, the new christians return to their homes, and come back with their wives and families to be in their turn also prepared for baptism. After all have been baptised, I order that everywhere the temples of false Gods be pulled down and idols be broken. I know not how to describe in words the joy I feel before the spectacle of pulling down and destroying the idols by the very people who formerly worshipped them". (Goel, St. Francis Xavier p.7).
In order to accelerate christianising of the Hindus and demolition of temples, one of the associates of Xavier, Minguel Vaz-the Vicar General of India appointed by Rome, requested the King of Portugal as a part of his 41 point programe to destroy all Hindu temples as follows:
"Since idolatry is so great an offence against God, as is manifest to all, it is just that your Majesty should not permit it within your territories, and an order should be promulgated in Goa to the effect that in the whole island there should not be any temple public or secret. Contravention there of should entail grave penalties that no official should make idols in any form, neither of stone, nor of wood, nor of copper, nor of any other metal...and that persons who are incharge of
St. Paul's should have the power to search the houses of the Brahmans and other Hindus, in case there exists a presumption or suspicion of the existence of idols there." (Wicki Vol.1 p.66.72).Consequently on March 8, 1547, the King ordered his Viceroy at Goa that all the Hindu temples should be destroyed forthwith. Minguel Vaz after seeking kings orders in October, 1546 to suppress Hindu Dharma and spread Christianity, he commenced to destroy Hindu temples and suppress idolatry and provoked against himself the odium of the Hindus to such an extent that they poisoned him (Priolkar p.76).
On 29th August, 1566, again Viceroy D. Antao de Noronha promulgated the following order: " / order that no Hindu temple be erected in any of the territories of my King, the lord of these parts, and that Hindu temples which already have been erected be not repaired without my special permission, contravention of which will entail the penalty of such temples being destroyed, and their value applied towards the expenses of pious works". (Cunha Rivara Vol V p.613; Prilkar p.77)
The Hindus appealed to the Viceroy against this order, and on being disappointed, "and placing in carriages the idols whose temples were threatended with ruin they moved to the other side where there were no Portuguese to prosecute them". (Souza p.14, Priolkar p.77).
Prof. Pessurlencar, on the basis of Govt. Archives of Goa informs that 57 villages of Salsete, and 40 villages of Bardez region had hundreds of temples of Hindu gods and goddesses as mentioned by Priolkar (p. 79 - 84). Pais (1952) gives the list of 156 temples destroyed in Goa in 1549. However, according to the 'History of Christianity in India', 280 temples were destroyed by the Jesuits in Salsete (p.333), and another 300 by the Franciscans in Bardez (p.342), as confirmed by Silva Rego also (p.408).
According to Souza, Diogo Rodrigues, the Captain of Rachol fort with the active assistance of the Missionaries of Salsete strove day and night to burn temples and break the images found therein. About Bardez, Gomez de Vaz reports, "There also took place in this year (1567) the destruction of the Hindu temples which existed in these territories of Your Majestry, of which none remains, for the priests of St. Francis also razed out the memory of all those which existed in Bardez (Silva Rego. p.298).
On March 15, 1567, the temples of Doro, Mando, Narana, Baguaonte and Hesporo (Ishwar) of Sancuale were burnt down and the images found therein destroyed. Further the images found in the destroyed temples were thrown into the adjoining rivers or melted to make candlestics and other objects for use in the local churches (Priolkar p.79). The details of the temples destroyed at Baseen, Bandra.Thana and Bombay are not available. But many temples were pulled down or burnt on the islands of Sevenon (Butchers island) and Neuen (Hog island) (Goel, St. Francis Xavier p.8).
On March 1569, an order was promulgated by which, the income of the Hindu temples of Bardez and Salsete which had been destroyed, was transferred to Christian Churches; and the Hindu inhabitants of the region were called and asked to disclose under oath 'information' about the properties attached to the temples which they did and the entire properties were transferred to the Churches (Priolkar p.85).
At many places the temples erased, and the Churches were built in their places. For example, "The Church of Cortalim is erected on the same site where formerly the idol of Mangesh was worshipped"(Souza p.14). Some missionary records refer to many famous temples being converted into Churches at these places. A magnificant Hindu temple in the Elephenta caves was turned into a chapel (Goel, St. Francis Xavier p.8). Besides this, Hunter says, that Portuguese converted one magnificent Masjid and eight other Hindu temples into the Churches (Imperial Gaz. Vol.IV
p.101).Not only this, when the Hindus built their temples outside the Portuguese territories and supported them financially the third concillio provincial held in Goa, in 1585, requested the King of Portugal to forbid the Hindus from financing the erection and maintenance of temples in the neighbouring territories. (Cunha Rivara Vol. IV p.123). Regarding "Financing Church Growth", Dr. T.R.de Souza writes: "........The Government transferred to the Church and religious orders the properties and other sources of revenue that had belonged to the Hindu temples that had been demolished or to the temple servants who had been converted or banished. Entire villages were taken over at times for being considered rebellious and handed over with all their revenues to the Jesuits. In the villages that had submitted themselves, at times en masse, to being converted, the religious orders promoted competition to build bigger and bigger Churches and more chapels than their neighbouring villages. Such a competition, drawing funds and diverting labour, from other important welfare works of the village, was decisively bringing the village economy in Goa to bankruptcy" (David p.24 - 35).
We would like to summarise this discussion with the comments of a noted Christian historian, Dr. T.R. de Souza about what Portuguese did in Goa. He writes, "At least from 1540 onwards and in the island of Goa before that year, all the Hindu idols had been annihilated or had disappeared, all the temples had been destroyed and their sites and building materials were in most cases utilized to erect new Christian churches and chapels, various Viceregal and Church Council decrees banished the Hindu priests from the Portuguese territories; the public practice of Hindu rites including marriage rites, was banned; the state took upon itself the task of bringing up the Hindu orphan children; the Hindus were denied certain employments, while the Christians were preferred; it was ensured that the Hindus would not harass those who became Christians, and on the contrary the Hindus were obliged to assemble periodically in Churches to listen to preaching or to the refutation of their religion" (David p. 17). Perhaps due to these acts, Gandhiji wrote very clearly in his autobiography "The Story of my experiments with truth", "I had started diskliking Christinaity" This was not without any reason. Those days Christian missionaries used to stand in a corner near the High School in Rajkot and used disgraceful words against Hindus and their Gods/Goddesses. I could not bear this". In fact not only Gandhiji, no Indian can bear this.
6. CONVERSION OF THE HINDUS TO CHRISTIANITY
The conversion of the Hindus to Christianity was one of the main activities of the Portuguese Rulers in association with the Missionaries. Fraud, force, and favouritism have been the standard methods of 'saving souls' or conversion employed by the Christian Missionaries throughout the world. After acquiring political power in Goa, in 1510, Alffanso de Albuquerque - the Viceroy expressed his keen desire to spread Christianity here, and in a letter (December 20, 1514) to the King of Portugal and gave an account of his eforts to convert the king of Cochin (Silva Rego Vol. I, P.228).
Xavier intensified conversion activities by all possible means in order to "clean up". Immediately after his arrival in Goa, he established St. Paul's College for training native missionaries to expand Christianity in foreign lands, and particularly, in the East.
Xavier believed Brahmans of Goa to be the biggest hurdle in the conversion of the Hindus and in a letter to the Society of Jesus, in Paris, he wrote thus : "There is in these parts among the pagans a class of men called Brahmans. They are as perverse and wicked a set as can any where be found and to whom applies the Psalm which says. ' From an unholy race, and wicked and crafty men, deliver me, Lord'. If it were not for the Brahmans, we should have all the heathens embracing our faith". (Goel, St. Francis Xavier p. 10)
On January 20,1548, emphasising his policy of forcible conversion of the Hindus in India, he wrote to a Jesuit Father Simao Rodrigues as below: "According to my experience, the only effective way to spread religion in India, is for the King to proclaim by means of an edict to all his officials in India that he shall put trust only in those who will exert themselves to extend the reign of religion by every means in their power The King must definitely order them to concern themselves with zeal to multiply the number of Christians in Cape Camorin in order to attract to the faith of Jesus Christ the Island of Ceylon, and too muster all the pious people, be they members of our Society (the Jesus) or others that may seem fit for propagating religion...If the king publishes such an edict and treats severely those who disobey it, a great number of the natives will embrace the faith of Jesus Christ; otherwise no success can be expected". (Goel, St. Francis Xavier, p.9).
How Xavier preached Christianity can be seen in one of the letters to the Brethern of the Society of Jesus on January 1544. "By our joint efforts and with infinite difficulty, we translated the Catechism to the Malabar tongue. This I learnt by heart and then I began to go through all the villages of the coast, calling around me by the sound of a bell as many as I could, children and men. I assembled them twice a day taught them Christian doctrine; and thus within the space of one month, the children had it well by heart". (Coleridge p. 151). Panikkar comments about Xavier's way of working, thus: "His methods were crude, but he showed an appreciation of popular psychology''(p. 190).
Regarding Xavier's way of evangelism, Hector writes: "In the matter of conversion Xavier held exceedingly crude ideas. His great aim was to get hold of the younger portion of the population... Xavier is said to have baptized seven hundred thousand natives, whom he left as ignorant as he found them. His motto seems to have been quantity not quality". (p.34)
T.B. Cunha, a Goan Freedom Fighter and Writer was very critical of Xavier's method of evangelism and wrote, "that saint (Xavier) came as a missionary with the patronage and protection of the Portuguese
King and used his power of proselytisation to further the Protuguese imperial designs". Similarly "Missionaries who accompanied the conquistadors of the colonial period did not see conflict between conquest and Mission", writes Dr. Filomena S. Giese, During the early Portuguese colonisation New Converts received favours and protection. Many of Xavier's must be seen in this context for they were made at the height of Portuguese colonial power"{ Gonsalves H.T. Dec. 4,1994).Mungel Vaz - an associate of St. Xavier submitted in November, 1545, a forty-one point program to convert the Hindus of Goa, personally visited Portugal and, "returned to India (October 1546) with an order from King to the Governor to take stringent measures against the Hindus". (Priolkar p.75).
Conversion by Fraud
: Another Jesuit Father D. Nobili who arrived in Madurai region India, in 1605, adopted the garb of a Hindu Brahman Sanyasi, styled himself as a "Roman Brahman"converted a hundreds thousands of Hindus into Christianity The same practice of fraud, forgery and finance is still in vogue here.Forcible Conversion of the Hindu Orphans :
On March 23, 1559, the King ordered which was endorsed by the Governors in 1564 and 1575 that "the children of Hindus who are left" without father mother, grand-father, grand-mother or other ascendant lineals, and are not of an age at which they can have understanding and judgement as soon as the last of such relatives is dead, be handed over to St. Paul College for being baptised, educated and indoctrinated by the fathers". (Cunha Rivaro Vol. p 577). Again on April 3,1582, it was enforced that "if the son of an infidel became orphan by the death of his father but had his grand parents and other ascendant lineals living, he could be given to a Christian tutor (Cunha Rivara Vol. VI. p.1265). On March 23, 1604, Viceroy ordered that "no person should remove boys and girls upto aged 18 years outside the Portuguese territory" (Priolkar p.135). Later on (December 16.11.1616), according to one of the edicts of Inquisition, Mucamdams of chawls should report all the orphans within six days to the Father of the Orphans for their baptisation. (Cunha Vol. VI, p.1281). Not only this, there were cases when 'children were forcibly''taken by inquisitioners for baptism (Priolkar p. 130).When the Hindus, in fear of their children being baptised started sending their children outside, the Portuguese territory Vceroy ordered not to migrate the children outside the territory wide order of 11 .7.1718 again and those who dared were 'heavily punished' (Priolkar p.131, Cunha Rivaro Vol. VI, p.104).
The Inquisitioners took away even such children as have fathers and other descendants lineals living (Priolkar p. 133) for baptisation. Sometimes even the whole family was baptised due to the baptisation of their child. In brief, the Portuguese Government provided all help to convert the Hindus. In the words of Panikkar, "With the Portuguese, Christianisation was a state enterprise "(Asia and Western Dominance, London, 1953 p.380).
Atrocities on Hindus was so much that in the treaty signed, in 1671 between the Nayaks of Keladi in Karnataka and the Portuguese, it was agreed that "Portuguese shall not force conversions, nor take orphans, nor kill Brahmans" (Goel, Papacy p.64).
The undue pressure of Church is now bringing up the events of more than 500 years ago when the Portuguese had broiught in five Jesuit priests with the army to convert the people of Cuncolim by force. The Goankars repelled the attack and the priests were killed in the Skirmish. In retaliation, the Portuguese lured fifteen chieftains of the Goankars to Assolna fort nearby on the pretext of holding talks and eventually massacred them. Goankars, Christian and hindu, have set up a chieftains memorial committee to honour the slain defending martyrs of Cuncolim. (Joglekar p. 3)
7. Torture of the Hindus
In order to promote conversions and create mental terror the Hindus were tortured by all possible means, particularly where the evidence against the accused was incomplete, defective or conflicting. The different ways of torture adopted were :
(1) Torture of Pole (pulleys); (2) Torture of Potro (water torture). However, the torture of Potro should never be given to women. But inquisition made use of a variety of other forms of torture also at diferent times and places. E.T. Whittington writes about forms of torture as follows:
"As to the torture itself, it combined all that the ferocity of savages and ingenuity of civilized man had till then invented. Besides the ordinary rack, thumb-screws, and leg-crushers or Spanish boots, there were spiked wheels over which the victims were drawn with weights on their feet, boiling oil was pored on their legs, burning sulphur dropped on their bodies, and lighted candles held beneath their armpits. And so effective were these tortures that nine out of ten innocent persons
preferred to die as confessed sorcerers rather than undergo a repetition of them". (Charles Singer, p.203).Finally, let us have a glimpse how conversion of Hindus was conducted by the Portuguese in the words of Dt T.R. de Souza, "A particularly grave abuse was practised in Goa in the form of 'Mass Baptism' and what went before it. The practice was begun by the Jesuits and was later initiated by the Franciscans also. The Jesuits staged an annual Mass Baptism on the Feast of the conversion of St. Paul (25 January), and in order to secure as many neophytes as possible, a few days before the ceremony, the Jesuits would go through the streets of the Hindu quarters in pairs, accompanied by their Negro slaves, whom they would urge to seize the Hindus. When the Blacks caught up a fugitive, they would smear his lips with a piece of beef, making him an "untouchable" among his people. Conversion to Christianity was then his only option". (David, p. 19).
Portuguese Missionaries allured Hindus to Christianity through money. Dr. S.K. Das points out that "The Marsdem manuscripts now preserved in the British Museum containing letters of Jesuit Fathers, give evidence that Portuguese Missionaries gave money to perspective converts to allure them".
Thus it can be concluded that all types of means and methods were adopted by Christian Missionaries to convert the Hindus. Recently in 1994, even the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) accepted in its Working Group paper that "All along the Western and Eastern Coast - Goa, Bassein, Coromandal and Malabar Coast - these missionaries converted large numbers of people both from the upper castes, especially in Goa and from the fisherfolk forty percent of Goa's population was converted, but the missionary endeavours especially in the period between 1560 and 1652, were marked by the use of political force and other inducement for gaining con verts" (CBCI Paper by Working Group, 1994, Shourie p.264).
Not only the Hindus, even the Syrian Christians who were living here earlier than the arrival of the Portuguese Jesuits, were put under the subjugation of Goa Inquisition. The Syrian Christians who earlier offered all support to the Portuguese as "Christian bretherh were shocked when they were asked to accept Pope as their Supreme Pontif, Roman ceremonies and Latin rites. And on their resistance to Pope's Supremacy, Syrian Bishops from Babylon were prevented. "One such preacher, Ahatalla who had come from Mesopotamia as the Metropolitian of the Syrian Church in India, was imprisoned by the Jesuits, taken to Goa, for being tried by the Inquisition and burnt alive, in 1653." (Goel Papacy p.5)
Besides this, following Xavier, Don Alexis de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa treated Syrian Christians as heretics; and many got converted to Roman Catholicism. Valuable Syrian manuscripts were burnt by him and the Malyali Christians were placed under the subjugation of Goa Inquisition. (Priokar, p.91, Part II)
8. Incentives to New Christian Converts
In order to promote conversion of the Hindus, a number of laws and orders were introduced to provide incentives, inducements, economic privileges and property rights to the new Christian converts at the cost of the Hindus. They were preferred in jobs, promotions in services, social status and honours. The new converts were encouraged and even forced to adopt western culture, dress and Portuguese language, and abandon their own indigenous language and culture. Some examples as reported by Priolkar (p. 141 - 143) are as below :-
(i) On June 15,1557, the Governor published the law of King D. Joao III and declared that Hindu widows and daughters, who otherwise are not entitled for ancestral property, would inherit the estate if they became Christians, and if they did not, the nearest relatives who became Christians would do so. (Priolkar p.142).
(ii) Again on August 12, 1557, D. Joao III, the King proclaimed that if a son or daughter of a Hindu became Christian, they would be entitled to one-third of the father's estate even during his life time, and would inherit further portion on parents death (Priolkar p. 143).
(iii) In 1562, the King ordered that any Hindu wife who becomes Christian and does not wish to live with her husband and separates from him shall have all ornaments and personal clothes as well as half of husbands estate, movable or immovable, and should be handed over to her on conversion to Christianity (Priokar p.142 -143).
(iv) According to the Viceroy's letter of 7.7.1569, the import duty should not be charged on clothes given to New Converts.They were exempted from paying customs especially for silk from China and for Sugar from Portugal.
(v) As per Kings' letter of January 25, 1571, the New Converts were required to appear at Baptism in a suite of western clothes which was given free to them.
(vi) On September 22, 1570, it was decreed that the Hindus who embraced Christianity would be exempted from land tax for a period of fifteen years.
(vii) On November 3,1592, the Viceroy proclaimed that the slaves of infidels who converted to Christianity themselves, would be freed. (Priolkar p.141)
If a Hindu died without leaving heirs or making a will his estate passed to the King (Priolkar p.142, Cunha Rivara Vol. V, p.522).
9. Goa Inquisition - an Unparalleled Barbarism
From the above presentations, it can be safely concluded that the Goa Inquisition proved horrible, barbarous, savageous and inhuman unparalleled in the history of humanity. It was a unique example of religious intolerance, torture, agony and excruciation to the Hindus.
J.C. Barreta Miranda writes about the cruelties of Goa Inquisition, thus: "The cruelties which in the name of Religion of peace and love this Tribunal practices in Europe, were carried out to even greater excesses in India, where the Inquisitors' every word was a sentence of death and at their slightest nod were moved to terror the vast populations spread over the Asiatic regions, whose lives fluctuated in their hands, and who, on the most frivolous pretext, could be clapped for all time in the deepest dungeous or offered as food for the flames of the pyre" (Priolkar p.30, Miranda p.145).
How immoral and barbarous were inquisitors can be seen by the oraton given by Archbishop of Evora at the cathedra! Church of Lisbon, in 1897 as given below: The Inquisition was an infamous tribunal at all places. But the infamy never reached greater depths, nor was more vile, more black, and more completely determined by mundane interests that at the tribunal of Goa, by irony called the Holy Office. Here the inquisitors went to the length of imprisoning in its jails women who resisted their advances, and after ha ving satisfied their bestial instincts there, ordering that they be burnt as heretics" (Dr. Antonio Noronha). The Hindus and the Portuguese Republic, Priolkar p.174 -175).
In this respect Priolkar says, "Scholars are generally agreed that the inquisition of Goa earned "a sinister renown as the most pitiless in Christiandom" (p. 159).
Regarding inquisition and barbarous torture, the great scholar Voltaire wrote in his epic Henriade :
Madrid's and Lisbon's horrid fires,
The yearly portion of unhappy Jews,
By priestly Judges doomed to temporal flames,
For thinking their forefathers' faith the best.
Similarly Lord Byron says :
"Christian have burnt each other, quite persuaded,
That all the Apostles would have done as they did."
Boies Penrose describes the inhuman torture of the Catholic Jesuits and the tragic consequences in the ruin of Portuguese empire in the following words : "Religious bigotry and proselytism fostered by the Inquisition sapped the vitals of the empire while more cruel terrorism took the place of the strength - albeit cruel strength - on which the early giants had relied. In so far as any one date can be taken as of prime importance in the ruin of the Portuguese empire, it is 6th May 1542, when Francis Xavier set foot ashore at Goa. From then on the Jesuits did their worst, using every form of bribery threat, and torture to effect a conversiori'. (Priolkar p.50).
Sita Ram Goel, an authority on Christiology remarks that "It is shameless dishonesty to say that the Christian doctrine had nothing to do with the atrocities practiced in Goa and Bengal and elsewhere under Portuguese dispensation" - (History of Hindu-Christian Encounters, p.16). Undoubtedly Goa inquisition was an unparalleled barbarism, inhumanism and fanatism which the Hindus sufered for two and half centuries under the tyrannical Portuguese rule.
10. Continuance of torture till Liberation of Goa
Even after the Goa Inquisition, the rule of force, oppression and interferece in all spheres of life continued. PritishAcharya under the title "Anachronism in Goa' (H.T.21, December, 2000) mentions that the
scene did not change rnucn even in 1937 when sign boards in shops were forcibly repainted in Portuguese. No permission was given for public meetings except those of Government's National Union. All publications, including marriage invitations were subject to prior censorship. Against such barbaric rules at least 14 insurrections flared up from 1822 to 1955; and in 1928 Tristao Braganza Culnha organised Goa Congress Committee as a branch of Indian National Congress not only to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule but also to integrate it with India.The non-cooperation movement started by Gandhiji in 1920 was discarded by the Christian missionaries and in their magazine "Harvest Field" they even went to the extent of saying that Indian Christians will not support this movement. Moreover, the Eastern correspondent of "ihe Church Missionary Review" went to the extent of vociferously complimenting General Dyer for large-scale massacre in Jalianwala Bagh. (Joglekar p. 1)
During this struggle many nationalists were arrested and executed or deported to Portuguese colonies inAfrica. Some leaders like Bala Raya Mapari was tortured to death, and Narain Naik was not released until the Portuguese were finally forced to withdraw Ram Manohar Lohia who witnessed the brutal face of Portuguese regime in 1946, was closely associated with the Goa Liberation Movement, and in 1954, repression of Goa forced 23616 Goans to migrate to Indian territory Simultaneously, thousands of Satyagrahies illegally entered Goa and joined the Goa Liberation Movement; and more than 3000 Indians were expelled from Goa in one day alone in 1954. Then several Indian political parties demanded the Indian Government for military intervention for Goa Liberation but the Prime Minister - Nehru opposed it. However, continued oppression by the Portuguese on the people forced even Nehru later to take action which led to the liberation of Goa on 19th December, 1961. This ended the barbaric missionary Portuguese rule in Goa.
Finally, though the Inquisition was over in 1812, and Goa was liberated but the policies of Inquisition of the Christian Missionaries continued and are still in action in regions where Christians are in majority or in political power like North-East Region from where about forty-five thousand Reang Tribals have been oppressed and forced to evacuate their ancestral homes. The Christian Missionaries have not budged an inch from the same old Inquisitionary path of forgery frauds and financing and alluring the poor gullible Hindus as New - Converts.
Even after the liberation of Goa, the Christian Missionaries continued their policy of confrontation and agitation. The Christian Missionaries in India in post-Independence era have initiated several movements as Dalit Liberation, Tribal Liberation, Women Liberation and Environment Management in the garb of social uplift and environment improvement.
Goa though liberated in 1961 from Portuguese rule is still sufering from the influence of the Catholics who are dominating and taking undue advantage of minority status while Hindus (85% of total population) are living like slaves under suppression/oppression and conversions are still going ahead in full speed. Perhaps the worst situation or mistreatment is accorded in Goa and our leaders are remaining silent spectators, pampering them as vote bank a matter of shame indeed. In fact, some Hindu leaders of a particular political party headed by a Catholic are themselves anti Hindu since Independence. If they introspect, they will realise what they are doing against peace loving Hindus-a matter of treachery indeed.
Christian Missionaries Oppose Industrial
Development : Generally, the new Industrial Complexes are established in remote and/or rural areas with the twin purpose of Industrial growth and overall development of the area and the people. But the Church takes it as an attack on their monopoly which they have been holding in the undeveloped areas because the Church envisages to suppress all developmental activities in the name of environment protection.In case of Goa, the Church protested against the establishment of Konkan Railways by the Govt., and other industries as DuPont Sunrise etc; and now, it is agitating against the Meta Strips Ltd. established at the expense of Rs.250 crores, at Sancoale, on the pretext of causing pollution endangering the deaths of people and animal lives. While the fact is that the project is equipped with all the most modern pollution control measures and effluent treatment plants leaving no risk of any pollution meant water and air resources. In view of these provisions and precautions for pollution control, the Goa State and Central Pollution Control Boards have approved this project. Still the Church is exploiting the gullible villagers creating fear psychoisis and Church is instigating them to agitate for scraping the project at this stage.
The Church, on 15.8.1999, organised a violent agitation at village Cortalim to force the Sarpanch to revoke the issue of licence to the
factory which led Distt Administration to rush to the spot to control law and order. Similarly, when this case was at the Court of Vasco for hearing on 7.9.1999 violent agitation was organised. The crowd comprising Catholics, priests and nuns broke the window glass panes, furniture and damaged records of the court, which let the Civil Judge of Sr DIV. Vasco, to complain against the agitators to higher authorities. Consequently, 176 rioters were arrested. Finally the Govt, of Goa on 4.10.1999 appointed a commission of inquiry for the whole afairs of the Meta Strips Ltd. and the incident of alleged assault on judiciary on September 7,1999.Not only this, the Director General of Police, Goa on 25th October 1999 reported the matter to the Human Rights Commission, New Delhi for justice. Besides this, the Chairman of M/s. Meta Strips Company Ltd. and Mr. Cyril Fernandes - a representative of the agitators, both requested the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to interfere and settle the issue. Mr. John Joseph - the Christian Representative of NCM after detailed enquiry (30th March to 4thApril, 2000) concluded his report as below: (i) There is a hidden agenda behind the agitation to cause political destablisation by creating communal tension using the Church, (ii) A large number of priests, nuns and the Church leaders are actively involved in the agitation, (iii) Church pool pit and resources are profusely made use of to promote the agitation.(iv)The nuns play a prominent role in dragging the village women folks into the agitation.(v) Attacks on Government and private vehicles are launched from Churches and Church Institutions and road blockades are created near such institutions, (vi) So far the majority community has not retaliated to the violence unleashed by the Christians because it is localised in Christian pockets, (vii) Business rivals/underworld should have role in financing and propagating the agitation. (viii)The sole demand of the agitators is to scrap the Company which has invested nearly Rs.300 crores. (ix) The agitators are misinformed and unscientifically tuted regarding the allegations of pollution." It is shocking that even Mr John Joseph, honourable member of minority commission was tortured for coming in the way of destruction of Hindu factory which they can never tolerate for obvious reasons.
While concluding his report, Mr. Joseph writes, "on our way, our car was stopped by force, by a mob which wanted to burn us along with the car...... During the commotion, we understood that their plan was either to take the representatives of the company as hostages or to cause their death..... The agitation against Meta Strips Ltd. in Goa is one more evidence of how vested interests under the garb of pollution and environmental protection halting in industrial development in various parts of the country" particularly where Hindu entrepreneurs are involved. (Indian Currents July 9, 2000 p.42-43).
It appears that Chiristion Missionaries are still following the foot steps of Francis Xavier and other Jesuits who might have taken the following oath to destroy Hindus and Hinduism and all other faiths opposed to Catholicisms.
A Catholic Jesuit's Oath :
"I furthermore promie and declare
that I will, when opportunity presents, make and wage a relentless war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, Protestants and Liberals, as I am directed to do, to extirpate and exterminate them from the face of the whole earth;
And that I will spare neither age, sex or condition;
And that I will hang, waist boil, flay, strangle and bury alive these infamous heretics, rip up the stomachs and wombs of their women and crush their infants' head against the walls, in order to annihilate forever their execrable race.
That when the same cannot be done openly, I will secretly use the poisoned cup, the strangulating cord, the steel of the poniard or the leaden bullet, regardless of the honour, rank, dignity, or authority of the persons, whatever may be their condition in life, either public or private, as at any time may be directed so to do by any agent of the Pope or superior of the Brotherhood of the Holy Faith, of the Society of Jesus" (http: HYPERLINK www.reformation.org/jesuitoath in action, html; updated; on 26.3.2000; Organiser 31.12.2000 p.9)When will the Hindus learn a lesson from the atrocities of Goa Inquisition?
Even today large scale conversion of the Hindus with Portuguese mentality is continuing and unscrupulous people are ruling the so called majority - a matter of shame, indeed. Hence, arise and bring the deceived souls back home by all means.
REFERENCES
Anony (1982) History of Christianity in India Pub. United Theological Seminary,
Bangalore.
Baiao Antonio (1949) A Inquisico de Goa, Vol I. Lisboa (Quoted by A.K.
Priolkar).
Coleridge, H.J. (1812) Life and Letters of St. Francis Xavier 2 Vols., Burns
and Oats, London.
Cottinean de Kloguen P.L.. (1922). An Historical Sketch of Goa, Bombay.
Cunha Rivara J.H. (1862-75) Archivo Poruiguez Oriental (Vol. IV-VI) Nova
Gova.
Das S.K. (1974) The Shadow of the Cross, New Delhi.
David M.D. (ed.) (1988) Western Colonialism in Asia and Christianity, Bombay.
Goel, S.R. (1986) Papacy - Its Doctrine and History, Voice of India (Vol), New Delhi.
Goel, S.R. (1996) History of Hindu - Christian Encounters (AD.304 - 1996) Vol.,
New Delhi.
Goel, S.R. (1985) St. Francis Xavier- The Man and His Mission Vol., New Delhi.
Gonsalves, A (1994) Goa - Preparing for Goencho Saib, Hindustan Times, December
4, 1994.
Hector Macpherson. The Jesuits in History, Belfast Northern Ireland.
Herculano Alexandre. (Ed. By David Lopes) Lisboa
IBC (Research Wing) (1999) Christianity and Conversion in India. Rishi Publications,
Varanasi.
Indian Currents (July 9, 2000) (p.92-93).
Jogelekar V. S. 2000 Misdeeds of Christians SRM Delhi.
Panikkar K.M. (1929) Malabar and The Portuguese VOL New Delhi (Reprint 1997).
Asia and Western Dominance (1953), London
Pais Francisco (1952) Tombe da ltha de Goa edas Terras de Salsete & Bardez. (Ed. by
P.S.S, Pessurlencar) Bastora.
Penrose Boies (1931). Sea lights in the East Indies in the years 1602 - 1639 Cambridge
Massachusetts.
Pires, Tome (1944). The Sums Oriental of London
Prescott, W.H. (1838). History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic of
Spain, Vol I. London, p. 345.
Priolkar A.K. (1961). The Goa Inquisition, Bombay (Reprint 1991) VOI, New Delhi.
Pritish Acharya (2000) Anachronism Hindustan Times (21.12.2000).
Silva Rego, Antonio de (1947 - 58) Documentacao para a Historia das Missoes da
Padroado. Portuguese do Oriente. 12 Vols. Isbora (Quoted by Priolkar).
Singer, Charles (1917). Studies in the History and Method of Science, Oxford.
Souza Francisco de (1881). Oriente Conquistado a Jesus Christo 2 Parts, Bombay.
Stephen, Neill (1984). History of Christianity in India. The beginnings to 1707 A.D.
Cambridge University Press.
Wicki, Josephus (1948 - I960) Documents Indica 6 Vols. Rome.
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