GEOGRAPHIC INPUT TO LAND IN GOA
Sebastian Rodrigues, May 2008
Goa’s geography was shaped
by tribes particularly the Gawdas. They are the first settlers of Goa. Belonging to Proto Astroloid race they trace their
origin to Khunti region in Chotanagpur, in Northern India
relating to Mundas. Originally
hunters, Gawdas settled in dense forest what is today known as Western Ghats. This might have taken place as early as
5,000 B.C[1].
Rock carvings on the banks of Kushavati river in Rivona, in South
Goa belong to this period. At that time there were no plain lands
in Goa. Arabian Sea
directly touched the mountains. Existing plain lands were claimed from beneath Arabian Sea over the next thousands of years. The
movement of sea water was regulated in a complex network of sluice gates all
over Goa. This network regulated the salty
water flow during the high tide and low tide. This created predictable water
flow and the rest of the land was gradually brought under cultivation of
various kinds such as rice, coconut etc. Some of the wild trees such as
Jackfruit were domesticated[2]
and fruits used to cure hunger.
Over the thousands of years new lands were claimed from the Arabian Sea and brought under cultivation. Goa perhaps known in various other names such as
Gopakkapattnam, Goavapuri, Gomantak, etc, became very prosperous region. It
soon became the envy of many and the efforts began to establish rule of the few
over the tribes in this region. Thus the era of state rule began.
Goa’s hinterlands, hilly
regions were shaped towards cultivation too. Natural water flow was carefully
observed over generations and cultivation was organized as per the land
gradient[3].
Inside the fresh water rivers like Mhadei was Puran Sheti, cultivation of rice and other vegetables inside the
river during non-monsoon season. This was done by specially preparing soil for
the purpose and then cultivating every year. On the banks of rivers, depending
upon the landscape, agricultural paddy fields would be established. Rice and
other vegetables would be cultivated twice a year – Rabi and Kharif
cultivations. In some places only one crop a year. Khazan lands adjacent to salty water rivers are also claimed lands
that act as buffer between mainland and salt Water Rivers. Next to paddy fields
were Kulagars, horticultural garden
of spices. Later beetle nuts, pineapples and sugarcane were added to the list
of items cultivated inside Kulagars.
Next adjacent cultivation space is Bhat
that is predominantly coconut plantations. And further lies dongar, mountains. On mountain too there
are cultivation spaces for other variety of crops that do not require high
quantity of water. It is called Kumeri
cultivation.
Undoubtedly tremendous labour has gone into shaping Goa’s Geography and making it highly prosperous place.
Besides labour it is the communities’ geniuses that have been at work across so
many generations. The painstaking work was possible only because of tremendous
spirit of co-operation amongst tribes. They are emotionally, spiritually one
with the nature as it is evident from various rituals that they undertake. Some
of these rituals are documented in ‘Goa Kulmi: paryavarniy sankskritiche janak, rakshak’[4].
Gawda tribe are pioneers in founding and administering the villages. They
derive the name Gawda chiefly from
their function, ‘Ganv vosoupi ani ganv
gaddo choloupi ho Gawdo’ goes the saying in Konkani. It means ‘Gawda is the one who founds and administers
village’[5].
It is this geography of Goa
that led to the beginning of history gradual exploitation over of tribes and
ultimately wresting of control over land from their possession. Prosperity of
this land attracted number of people, some as migrants whom the community
accepted while others also came as migrants but gradually began skimming as to
how to establish their control. Due to organic links of the founders with the
earth, the option of outright decimation could not be exercised. Instead the
communities were gradually subjected to attempt towards taming for labour
supply. Prior to Portuguese colonial rule that began in 1510 these attempts
were in oral form[6]. Methods
then included raiding of communities and forcefully taking over control of the
village community lands. Very often these things did not work out well for the
invaders such as Brahmins like Desais
and Marathas like Ranes. Communities
abandoned their villages and fled to new areas in the forest and founded new
villages. Invaders did not possess the skills to cultivate the land as the
Gawdas would be doing; instead they had to arrange labour from Gawda tribe from
some other village to cultivate the conquered villages. This was not easy as
each village would have their own cultivation to undertake. Some villages did
get into the control of these marauding violent bands of gangs and de facto established their control over
the lands. Large tracks of lands did come under control of these gangs chiefly
because Gawda tribe are mainly non-violent in nature and chose flight rather than fight the invaders. Brahmins asserted their control over conquered
lands with violence and shrewdness. However they were not in a possession to
align with the State and legitimize their conquest till arrival of Portuguese.
Gawda institution of land holding was known as Gaonkary. It collectively administered
the village. The whole community was the owner of village lands. There was no
absolute private property in land ownership. This gaonkary system got transformed into Communidades during Portuguese rule. Tribal deity is known as Devchar. It is without form and shape having organic ties with
nature and with members of Gawda community. Devchar
was most powerful public spiritual entity that symbolically protected
villagers and their lands. Devchar
have been target of attack both from the Brahminical forces as well as from the
Church that accompanied Portuguese during colonial times. Church in fact has
historically engaged in negative brainwashing by equating Devchar with theological entity in Christianity called ‘Devil’.
Konkani translation of Devil is given
as Devchar to the mass of people.
Theological contest in western Christianity between God and Devil, after
transplantation in Goa was translated as contest
between Dev and Devchar. So the target was clearly indigenous people, their deities
and their land. Brahmanical forces term
it as ‘daitya shakti’ meaning evil
power that is meant to be eliminated from the face of earth. Symbolically this
tribal community must be snatched off its most volatile symbol of identity that
is linked to community land and its defenses. Devchar is also known as Rakhandar
and as Ajoba. It’s habitat is
known as Raim or sacred grove.
Portuguese colonialism benefited these marauding gangs
looking for control over tribal lands. Portuguese conducted their business of
rule in written form aligned with these gangs and legitimized their control of
tribal lands though State Patronage. Goa’s Geography is a root cause of attraction of various
categories of People to tribal lands.
[1] Vinayak
Khedekar, Lok Sarita, Goa Kala
Academy, Panjim, 1993.
Pp.114.
[2]
Discussions with Ram Velip of Colamb, Sanguem, Goa.
[3] Order of
cultivation was pointed out by Venkatesh Prabhudesai of Quinamoll, Colamb,
Sanguem, Goa.
[4]Vinayak
Khedekar, 2004.
[5] Dugadas Gaonkar.
[6] My
discussions with Ram Velip of Colamb, Sanguem, Goa.
