Goa has since ancient times been one of the gateways to India. All throughout history, Goa has seen many a prince and potentate, merchant and mendicant, saint and soldier pass through its portals. They came, bringing their cultures and traditions with them, and consequently influenced the evolution of Goa’s culture and history. The earliest reference to Goa exists in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata, where it is called Gomantaka which translates to region of cows. Hindu scriptures refer to Parshurama as the creator of Goa.Around 2200 BC, the Sumerians established trade with Goa and references to Goa appear in Cuneiform script when King Gudea of Lagash called Goa Gubio. Many Sumerians settled in Goa and elsewhere along the Konkan coast.
The fields of Goa are believed to be designed by Sumerians, since they follow Sumerian standards of measurement to this day.A wave of Harappan or Kusha people moved through Goa on their way to Lothal around 1600 BC in order to escape submergence of their civilisation. They were accompanied by southern Indians from the Deccan plateau.Following this period, Goa was ruled by a succession of dynasties until the 15th century AD. The Mauryas, the Shatavahanas, the Bhojas, the Abhiras, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Kadambas, the Yadavas, the Vijaynagar Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate held sway over this land. Goa changed hands many times during this period and the culture and traditions of the ruling dynasties heavily influenced Goan tradition.
In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut in India after having set off from Lisbon in his home country of Portugal a year earlier and thus broke the Arab monopoly on trade. Shortly thereafter, in 1510, Portuguese Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque attacked Goa and, after initially failing, took possession of Goa from Ismail Adil Shah on 25 Novermber, 1510. Kneeling in the public square, he dedicated Goa to St. Catherine whose feast was on that day. Goa thus became the centre of Portuguese India.The Portuguese had a tremendous impact on Goa during the period of their reign, which lasted more than 400 years. Albuquerque set up the first Portuguese mint in the East to mint currency. He and his successors also abolished the practice of Sati. The Crown undertook to finance missionary activity; missionaries and priests converted large numbers of people in all spheres of society, especially in Goa.
St. Francis Xavier established a seminary called Saint Paul’s College in Goa. In 1556, the printing press was first introduced to India and Asia here. The largest church in Asia, the Cathedral or Sé, was constructed in Goa during the Golden Age of Portuguese rule. In 1757, King Joseph I of Portugal decreed that all subjects in the Portuguese Indies would be granted Portuguese citizenship and representation.
The regions of Goa, Damão, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli became collectively known as Estado da Índia Portuguesa. When India became independent in 1947, Goa remained under Portuguese control. Several attempts to free Goa from Portuguese control followed, most of which were carried out by unarmed agitators. On 16 December 1961, Indian troops crossed the border into Goa and ‘Operation Vijay’ began. It involved sustained land, sea and air strikes for more than 36 hours. It resulted in the unconditional surrender of Portuguese forces on 19 December 1961. Goa was admitted to Indian statehood in 1987. Goa celebrates its “Liberation Day” on 19 December every year, which is also a state holiday.
