When was the first portuguese colony in india

India's exit from the British empire in spurred many Goans to demand an end to Portuguese rule, but few expected so much to change so quickly.

The changes came so fast," said Honorato Velho, a retired school principal. The year-old once lived next to the grandfather of Antonio Costa, Portugal's current prime minister, and he fondly remembers a childhood peppered with European and local influences.

Across the state, homes influenced by old Portuguese design trends are falling into disrepair or being pulled down to make way for apartment blocks. The gradual disappearance of covered terraces and mother-of-pearl shell windows -- built to diffuse harsh sunlight -- is not just a loss to architecture, said author Heta Pandit.

Only a handful of traditional homes have been earmarked for protection from development or destruction, Pandit added.

Some Goans have nonetheless found themselves drawn into a relationship with their heritage, even against their own early inclinations. At a recent outdoor concert in a coastal village, dozens of people gathered to listen to Goan singer Sonia Shirsat, an accomplished performer of traditional Portuguese fado music. The year-old specialises in the melancholy, guitar-driven genre, which was born at the turn of the 19th century and was in recent years recognised by UNESCO for its "intangible cultural heritage".

Timeline of the History of Portugal as a Trader. When and Why British first landed on Indian Territory. The death of Viceroy Albuquerque. What were the factors in the growth of Modern Nationalism during British rule? History of Modern India: Study Material. Are you worried or stressed? Click here for Expert Advice. There are plans to import more coal into the state, which will cause more pollution. Our rivers are being nationalised to carry cargo. No one is against development, but this isn't progress.

Libia Lobo Sardesai, lawyer. I always had a fire for Goa's freedom in me. After , due to the economic blockade, Goans had no access to any outside news or information. It became imperative to expose Portuguese propaganda through a clandestine method which took the shape of an underground radio programme. Vaman Sardesai [who she later married] and I started the station, broadcasting every morning and evening in Portuguese and Konkani [the local language].

The Voice of Freedom station was run from forests bordering Goa between November and December It was not an easy life for us, but we were committed to our cause. We did not know how long we would have to go on - all we knew was that we must keep giving Goans information and inspiration.

The Portuguese army was not happy, and they tried to track us down. Thankfully, they couldn't. On 15 December , India's then defence minister, Krishna Menon, used our programme to send a message to the Portuguese army to negotiate. We repeated the message every hour throughout the next day. The Indian army entered Goa when they received no response from the Portuguese.

When I heard the news that the Portuguese had surrendered, it was the happiest moment of my life. I felt I must go up in the skies to announce Goa's freedom from Portuguese rule after years. In fact, we did that by dropping leaflets and making announcements while flying in a plane over Goa for two hours. Goa was liberated for progress. But today, in the name of progress, the state is being vandalised.

Damodar Mauzo, 73, writer. When I was 12, I had to perform a religious ceremony at my home. There was also a photo each of Buddha and Jesus Christ. My father invited Portuguese officials stationed in my village.