1789-1815 History of India 1878-1918





Portuguese India 1815-1878



In 1813 the British occupation of Goa ended and Portuguese rule resumed. Portugal being a British ally since 1661, her possessions in India were secure. The old capital of Goa suffered from an unhealthy environment; in 1827-1835 a new capital was constructed at Panjim, which officially was proclaimed capital in 1843. Construction costs, which were consideravle, were financed by revenues gained from Portuguese Indian merchants' share in the Indian Ocean slave trade (Portugal formally banned slave trade in 1836, a decree not enforced) and in the Opium trade to China. Except for the teak felled in Dagra and Nagar Haveli, the economy of Portuguese India was described as moribund. Known ore deposits (iron) were mined, but poorly managed due to lack of investment and poor technology. Portuguese India experienced emigration; the Catholics among her population were partially westernized which helped them finding employment and obtain education - in British India, where the city of Bombay exercised most attraction.
A government printing press was introduced in 1821, a private printing press in 1859. The issuance of postage stamps for Portuguese India began in 1871. In 1835 religious orders were suppressed. A Normal School (to train teachers) was established in 1841; every village was given a primry school. The first girls' school was opened in 1846.
Ending a centuries-long policy of religious intolerance, in 1833 Hindus were permitted to practice their rites and ceremonies. The policy of discrimination against Hindus, however, continued until 1910. The administration of state and church continued to insist on the use of Portuguese as the only official language (instead of Konkani, the vernacular of Goa).
A British offer to purchase Portuguese India in 1839 was rejected.
The Ranes revolted against taxation in 1822, 1823, 1824 and 1845-1851.






EXTERNAL
FILES
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE M.N. Pearson, The Portuguese in India, Cambridge : UP 1987 [G]
P.P. Shirodkar, Goa's Struggle For Freedom, New Delhi : Ajanta 1988 [G]
P.S. Varde, History of Education in Goa from 1510 to the Present Day, Panaji : Goa Vidya Pratishthan 1977 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on May 24th 2002, last revised on November 17th 2005

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