Stories of Goan migration: The trails, travails and triumphs

PANJI: Mapusa-born, Manuel António de Sousa founded a dynasty in Portuguese Mozambique.
Goans had colonized an area bigger than Panaji in Karachi. The Karachi Goans also set up India Life Assurance Company (ILACO) in Karachi, which flourished and had branches in Mumbai and Kolkata.
These and other lesser known facets of migration, achievements and socio-economic aspects of the fascinating subject of Goan diaspora emerged aplenty at the 29th local history seminar jointly organized by directorate of archives and archaeology and Goa University’s history department, at Reis Magos fort, Verem, on Tuesday.
Delivering the keynote address, Celsa Pinto, historian and author was referring to Souza, a successful merchant and military captain in Portuguese Mozambique. He had his own private army in the late 1800s in Africa.
Pinto said that Goan migration is a vast subject with immense scope for research. “Migration of Goans, especially to Karnataka and other regions prior to 19th century is yet to be researched in greater detail,” she lamented.
Referring to a study on migration being done by Fr Visitacao Monteiro, a Diocesan priest, she said that three major phases of migration were in 1294, 1522 and 1560.
A comprehensive study both ways, how Goans impacted the places they settled in and how Goa was affected due to their emigration is necessary, she said.
The archives department and central library are treasure troves of primary sources. “But foreign researchers are seen here more and it is crying for attention from local ones,” she bemoaned.
Agnelo P Fernandes spoke about the causes of Goan immigration and naturalization in alien lands. “They migrated fearing conversions and the Inquisition,” he said. But locals also exited Goa during the Adil Shahi rule and after also facing the brunt of Maratha attacks in Salcete and Bardez.
Remy Dias, traced the socio-economic status of Goans in British-controlled India. They preferred to suffer earning low wages in Bombay rather than longer periods of unemployment in Goa, he said.
Sushila Sawant Mendes dealt with a case study of Assolna village, while Fr Joseph Velinkar spoke about migration from Salcete to Mangalore. “It was a dangerous journey by boat and took 10 days. The overland route was even more dangerous,” he said.