07-31-2004, 05:19 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Portuguese came to India primarily for trade and commerce.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Portuguese rule in Goa must truly go down as one of the most barbaric periods in human history. On a smaller scale, it is reminiscent to the destruction of the South American civilizations. The dreaded inquistion of the 1560s, the wholescale destruction and plunder of thousands of Hindu temples, the ruthless conversion, rape and cultural holocaust perpetrated on the Hindus make for horrific reading, and are every bit comparable with the Islamic holocaust. At the height of the cultural holocaust, the ratio of Christians to Hindus was something like 100,000 christians to 3000 Hindus. Yet, this bitter chapter in Hindu history has largely been swept under the carpet. And for many, Goa remains a tropical utopia -- the traveler's ultimate destination of sun and tan, beach-whores and toddy.
Here are some links which describe the history of Goa in brief:
Brief Summary of the Rulers of Goa
(Describes in a nutshell how the reigns of power changed hands rapidly from Vijayanagar to Bijapur and finally to the Portuguese Barbarians)
Goa through the Ages
(A Succint summary of the history of Goa, especially the tyranny and barbarism of the Christians)
The Portuguese rule in Goa must truly go down as one of the most barbaric periods in human history. On a smaller scale, it is reminiscent to the destruction of the South American civilizations. The dreaded inquistion of the 1560s, the wholescale destruction and plunder of thousands of Hindu temples, the ruthless conversion, rape and cultural holocaust perpetrated on the Hindus make for horrific reading, and are every bit comparable with the Islamic holocaust. At the height of the cultural holocaust, the ratio of Christians to Hindus was something like 100,000 christians to 3000 Hindus. Yet, this bitter chapter in Hindu history has largely been swept under the carpet. And for many, Goa remains a tropical utopia -- the traveler's ultimate destination of sun and tan, beach-whores and toddy.
Here are some links which describe the history of Goa in brief:
Brief Summary of the Rulers of Goa
(Describes in a nutshell how the reigns of power changed hands rapidly from Vijayanagar to Bijapur and finally to the Portuguese Barbarians)
Goa through the Ages
(A Succint summary of the history of Goa, especially the tyranny and barbarism of the Christians)