SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2024
Nilankur Das
A postdoctoral researcher, Dr Roger Lee de Jesus from Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, recently spoke about the process of territorialisation of Goa at Fundacao Oriente, Panjim. He is developing this paper guided by Prof Manuel Bastias Saavedra, funded by a European Research Council Grant. The idea of this study is to provide a new, non-Eurocentric history of the development of land tenure from a global perspective. One of the case studies within this project is centered around Goa, where Dr Roger is examining the complex process of Portuguese territorialisation and its profound implications for native populations and local customs between 1510 and 1650. To add more to the context, the project has a comparative approach. He is collaborating with his colleague Alina Rodríguez Sánchez, who is investigating the Mexican process during the same period.
Together, they aim to detect the distinctions and similarities between these processes. By examining the Portuguese territorialisation in Goa and the corresponding developments in Mexico, they seek to understand how these historical processes differed and converged.
Dr Roger chose four different events, collected from various documents to understand the complexities of territorialisation. Each one was relevant to explaining how Portuguese territorialisation took place. The first event was a letter from King D Manuel I in 1518, discussing the distribution of land on the island of Goa among the Portuguese settlers known as ‘casados,’ individuals who married locally. This document gains interest when viewed alongside another letter from 1519, where the monarch changed his mind, protecting the lands of the Hindu population. This demonstrates how the king needed to be constantly informed about different realities around the globe and that he didn’t always have the full picture.
The second event was the Foral of Goa in 1526, which stands as one of the most important documents in Goa’s history. Its impact lasted for centuries and continues to be studied by many scholars. The Foral regulated various aspects of daily village life, particularly concerning land ownership. The third event occurred in June 1541, when Portuguese royal officials asked the Gaonkar to redirect certain village revenues to the Catholic Church. This holds high significance as it acknowledges that the land was owned by villages and managed by village councils or Gaonkari system.
The fourth event, in 1648, was a process carried out by the king’s attorney in Goa against the College of Rachol, regarding the ownership of an island located in the river. It demonstrates how the idea of land ownership changed through the 16th century, transitioning to the more centralised notion that was all part of the king’s domains. These four stories are connected through Goa’s land history, offering insights into the Portuguese approach to managing these complex matters.
An important factor was the considerable distance between Portugal and Goa, a journey that spanned six months. Furthermore, due to the monsoon seasons, ships had to wait before embarking on their return to Europe. As a result, even a single question or piece of requested information from the king could take a minimum of a year and a half to get back to Lisbon. Given the vast extent of the empire, which encompassed several fortresses from the eastern coast of Africa to the China Sea, managing this process was quite challenging. Consequently, access to information became a pivotal aspect, prompting the king to request constant updates.
Among the various forms of information, illustrations were particularly significant, as they provided the monarch with a visual way to see his empire. A notable example of such visual documentation is the Book of Fortresses (Livro das Fortalezas), made in the 1630s by António Bocarro. Preserved in the Biblioteca Pública de Évora, this compilation consists of drawings depicting nearly all Portuguese fortresses and territories in Asia. Beyond the king’s inquiries, other individuals also contributed to the collection of valuable information. For instance, Governor D João de Castro (1500-1548) compiled three ‘rutters’, containing extant information and illustrations of the lands. Another notable source is the anonymous Codex Casanatense 1889, preserved in the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome. This codex features remarkable watercolor illustrations, many of which depict scenes from Goa. All these visual sources are freely available online, Dr Roger mentioned.
The variations of territorialisation were primarily due to the distinct characteristics of each region. Each port, city, region, or realm possessed its own unique context, prompting the Portuguese to recognize the need for different approaches. Political, military, economic, and social factors required different interactions with various local agents. As a result, an administrative structure was established in Goa, centered around a governor or viceroy. However, individual fortress captains enjoyed a significant degree of autonomy in managing local affairs. This diversity can also be seen in the development of spontaneous or informal Portuguese communities across Asia, created by those who often sought to escape the direct control of the king and live a free life there.
Dr Roger Lee de Jesus stated that discussing the colonial past is a complex issue but it’s important to acknowledge the historical connection between Portugal and Goa from this shared history. His current research is a way to look into this complex relationship, recognizing that it was not always marked by peace; violence and resistance were prevalent aspects of societies during those times. Understanding present times requires understanding history, acknowledging that the past is not simply a matter of black and white but rather a landscape of grey colour. For instance, the approaching 500th anniversary of the Foral of Goa in 2026 presents an opportunity for reflection. This document has significantly shaped its era and it can be a perfect time to rethink his importance and what we can learn from it nowadays.
