History of Goa

Early History and Portuguese Arrival

History of Goa dates back to its establishment as an ancient Hindu city at the southern tip of the island. It was renowned in early Hindu legends and history, appearing in the Puranas and various inscriptions as Gove, Govapuri, and Gomant. Medieval Arabian geographers referred to it as Sindabur or Sandābūr. The Portuguese named it Velha Goa. The Kadamba dynasty ruled Goa from the 2nd century CE until 1312, after which Muslim invaders took control until 1367. The Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar then ruled until the Bahmanī Sultanate conquered Goa in 1440, establishing Old Goa on the island.

In 1482, after the division of the Bahmanī kingdom, Goa came under the control of Yūsuf ʿĀdil Khan, the Muslim king of Bijapur. In March 1510, Portuguese seafarers, led by Afonso de Albuquerque, attacked and captured the city. After a brief siege, Albuquerque returned with a larger force and recaptured the city in November 1510, marking the beginning of Portuguese control over Goa.

Portuguese Rule and Decline

Goa became the first Portuguese territorial possession in Asia. Albuquerque and his successors preserved the customs and constitutions of the island’s village communities, except for the practice of suttee (sati). It became the capital of the Portuguese empire in Asia, reaching its peak prosperity between 1575 and 1600. However, the arrival of the Dutch led to Goa’s decline. The city was blockaded by Dutch fleets in 1603 and 1639, though it was never captured. It also suffered from an epidemic in 1635.

Goa faced further challenges from the Marathas and Mughals. In 1683, a Mughal army stopped Maratha raiders from capturing Goa, but in 1739, Marathas attacked again but were repelled. The Portuguese seat of government moved from Old Goa to Mormugão (Marmagao) in 1759 and later to Panjim (New Goa) due to cholera epidemics. By 1775, Old Goa’s population had dropped from 20,000 to just 1,600, and by 1835, only a few priests, monks, and nuns remained.

20th Century Events and Goa’s Integration into India

In the 19th century, Goa saw several significant events, including British occupation in 1809 during Napoleon I’s invasion of Portugal and the governance of Count de Torres Novas (1855–64), which brought improvements. Military revolts, including one in 1895, led to an expeditionary force from Portugal. In the 1950s, Goa experienced rising tensions as Indian nationalists demanded its inclusion in India. After India gained independence in 1947, it began pressing Portugal to cede Goa and its other territories.

In 1954, Goan nationalists took control of the Portuguese enclaves of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, establishing a pro-Indian administration. The tensions escalated in 1955, with nonviolent resisters (satyagrahis) attempting to enter Goa, leading to forceful retaliation by Portuguese authorities. Diplomatic ties between Portugal and India were severed in August 1955. On December 18, 1961, Indian forces, supported by naval and air forces, invaded Goa, Daman, and Diu, bringing them under Indian control. Goa officially became a state of India in 1987.