Goa
Template:Goa infobox Goa (गोवा) is India's smallest state in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population after Sikkim. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the Konkan, and is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's west coast. Panaji is the state's capital, and Margaon the largest town. A former colony of Portugal, Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for almost 450 years until 1961, when it was forcibly taken over by the Indian government, after demands for a merger with India failed.
Internationally renowned for its beaches, Goa is visited by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists each year. Besides beaches, Goa is also known for its world heritage architecture including the Bom Jezu Basilica. Goa also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location in the Western Ghats hills, which are classified as an ecological hotspot, one of only three among the ecoregions of India.
Origin of name
The precise origin of the name Goa is unclear. The Indian epic Mahabharata refers to the area now known as Goa; as "Goparashtra" or "Govarashtra", which means a nation of cowherds. "Gopakapuri" or "Gapakapattana" were used in some ancient Sanskrit texts, and these names were also mentioned in other sacred Hindu texts such as the Harivansa and the Skanda. In the latter, Goa is also known as "Gomanchala". Gove, Govapuri, Gopakpattan, and Gomant are some other names that the region is referred to in certain inscriptions and texts such as the Puranas. It has also been known as "Aprant".
After the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century, the region was renamed Goa, a corruption of the name Gova.
History
Goa has a long history stretching back to the 3rd century BC, when it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. Goa was later ruled by the Satavahanas of Kolhapur (in Maharashtra) around two thousand years ago. It eventually passed to the Chalukyas of Badami, who controlled it between 580 to 750. Over the next few centuries Goa was successively ruled by the Silharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyans of Kalyani, rulers of Deccan India.
Goa fell under the Islamic rule for the first time in 1312, coming under the governance of the Delhi Sultanate. However, the kingdom's grip on the region was weak, and by 1370 they were forced to surrender it to Harihara I of Vijayanagar. The Vijayanagar monarchs held on to the territory for the next hundred years until 1469, when it was appropriated by the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After the dynasty crumbled, the area came under the hands of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur who made Goa Velha their auxiliary capital.
In 1498, Vasco da Gama became the first European to set foot in India through a sea route, landing in Kozhikode in Kerala, followed by an arrival in what is now known as Old Goa. The Portuguese arrived with the intention of setting up a colony and wresting control of the spice trade from other European powers. Later, in 1510, Portuguese admiral Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the ruling Bijapur kings on behalf of a Hindu king, Timayya, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa). By mid-16th century the area under occupation had expanded to most of Goa's present day state limits. The Portuguese intended it to be a colony and a naval base, distinct from the fortified enclaves established elsewhere along India's coasts.
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With the imposition of the Inquisition (1560–1812), many of the local residents were forcibly converted to Christianity by missionaries. To escape the Inquisition and harassment, thousands fled the state, settling down in the neighbouring towns of Mangalore and Karwar in Karnataka. With the arrival of the other European powers in India in the 16th century, most Portuguese possessions were appropriated by the British and the Dutch. Portuguese possessions in India were reduced to a few enclaves along India's west coast, with Goa being the largest of these holdings. It soon became their most important overseas possession and was granted the same civic privileges as Lisbon. Subsequently, a senate was created, which maintained direct communications with the king. In 1883 the capital was moved to Panjim from Goa Velha.
After India gained independence from the British in 1947, Portugal refused to accede to India's request to relinquish their control of its exclave. Arbitration by the World Court and the United Nations General Assembly the 1950s, ruled in favour of India. Finally, on 1961-12-19, the Indian army moved in; taking the colony by force. After a brief skirmish lasting for twenty-six hours, Goa, along with Daman and Diu (enclaves lying to the north of Maharashtra), was made into a federally administered Union Territory. Though most nations recognised the annexation, Portugal acknowledged it only after its Carnation Revolution in 1974. On 1987-05-30, the Union territory was split, and Goa was elevated as India's twenty-fifth state.
Geography and climate
Goa encompasses an area of 3,702 km² (1,430 sq mile). It lies between the latitudes 14°53'54" N and 15°40'00" N and longitudes 73°40'33" E and 74°20'13" E. Most of Goa is situated in the coastal plains known as the Konkan, which are at sea level. The eastern part of the state is composed the hilly Western Ghats which separate it from the Deccan Plateau. The state's highest point is the Sonsogor, with an altitude of 1,167 metres (3,827 feet). Goa has a coastline of 101 km (63 miles) most of which is sandy.
Goa's main rivers are the Mandovi, Zuari, Terekhol, Chapora and the Betul. The Mormugao harbour on the mouth of the river Zuari is one of the best natural harbours in western India. The total navigable length of Goa's rivers is 253 km (157 miles).
Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites which are rich in ferric aluminium oxides and reddish in colour. Further inland and along the river banks, the soil is mostly alluvial and loamy. The soil is rich in minerals and humus, thus conducive plantation.
Goa, being in the tropical zone and near the Arabian Sea, has a warm and humid climate for most of the year. The month of May is the hottest, seeing day temperatures of over 39°C (99°F) coupled with high humidity. The monsoon rains arrive by early June and provide a much needed respite from the heat. Most of Goa's annual rainfall is received through the monsoons which last till late September.
Goa has a short cool season between mid-December and February. These months are marked by cool nights of around 20°C (68°F) and warm days of around 29°C (84°F) with moderate amounts of humidity. Further inland, due to altitudinal gradation, the nights are a few degrees cooler[1].
Economy
Tourism is Goa's primary industry handling 12%[2] of all foreign tourist arrivals in India. Goa has two main tourist seasons. Tourism is particularly important along Goa's coastal stretch, but its impact is more limited in the interior parts of the state. Goa also has India's only casino, which is on a luxury cruise liner.
The land away from the coast is rich in minerals and ores and mining forms the second largest industry. Mining in Goa focuses on ores of iron, bauxite, manganese, clays, limestone and silica. Agriculture, while of shrinking importance to the economy over the past four decades, offers part-time employment to a sizable portion of the populace. Rice is the main agricultural crop, followed by ragi, cashew and coconut. The fishing industry provides employment for about forty thousand people, though recent official figures indicate a decline of the importance of this sector and also a fall in catch, perhaps coupled with the fact that traditional fishing has given way to large-scale mechanised trawling.
Small scale industries include the manufacturing of pesticides, fertilisers, tyres, tubes, footwear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, wheat products, steel rolling, fruits and fish canning, cashew nuts, textiles, brewery products. Goa is also notable for its low liquor prices due to its very low excise duty on alcohol. Another source of cash inflow into the state comes from many of its citizens who work abroad and remit money to their families.
Government and politics
Panaji (also known by its anglicised name – Panjim) is the legislative and administrative capital of Goa. The state's judicial capital, however, is Mumbai (Bombay), as the state comes under the Bombay High Court. A bench of the High Court is present in Panaji. Unlike other states where civil laws are framed for each religion, the Uniform Civil Code governs its citizens.
Goa has a unicameral legislature consisting of a forty member Legislative Assembly, headed by a Chief Minister who wields the executive power. The ruling government consists of the party or coalition garnering the most seats in the state elections. The governor of the state appointed by the President of India; the role is largely ceremonial. Goa is notorious for its political instability having seen fourteen governments in the span of the fifteen years between 1990 and 2005[3]. In March 2005 the assembly was dissolved by the governor and President's Rule was declared, which suspended the legislature for six months. The Congress party and the BJP are the two largest parties in the state.
Divisions
The state is divided into two districts: North Goa and South Goa. Goa contributes two seats to India's Parliament, the Lok Sabha, one from each district. Panaji is the headquarters of the north Goa district and Margaon of the south district. Each district is governed by a district collector, an administrator appointed by the Indian government.
The districts are further divided into eleven talukas – Talukas of North Goa are: Bardez, Bicholim, Pernem, Ponda, Satari and Tiswadi. Talukas of South Goa are Canacona, Mormugao, Quepem, Salcette and Sanguem. Headquarters of the respective talukas are Mapusa, Bicholim, Pernem, Ponda, Valpoi, Panaji, Chaudi, Vasco, Quepem, Margaon and Sanguem.
Demographics
A native of Goa is called a Goan. In many parts of India, the names Goanese and Goankar are also sometimes used instead of Goan. Goa has a population of 1.344 million residents consisting of 685,000 males and 658,000 females with a growth rate of 14.9% per annum. There are 363 people for each square kilometre of the land. 49.77% of the population live in urban areas. The sex ratio is 960 females to 1000 males. Goa's literacy rate is 82.32%, broken down into: males 88.88% and females 75.51%.[4] Hinduism (65%), Catholicism (30%)[5] and Islam are the three main religions in Goa.
Konkani is the state language, and Marathi, the state language of neighbouring Maharashtra is additionally spoken by many of the residents in the northern portion. English also is widely spoken by many residents, especially among the Christian populace. Finally, Portuguese is still spoken as a second language in some areas, especially among some of the state's senior citizens.
Goa's main towns are Margaon, Vasco, Panjim and Mapusa. The region connecting the four towns is considered a de facto conurbation, or a more or less continuous urban area.
Transport
Goa's main form of public transport largely consists of privately operated buses linking the major towns to rural areas. A few government run buses also link the taluka headquarters. In large towns such as Panjim and Margaon, intra-city buses serve its citizens. Goa has two National Highways passing through it. NH-17 runs along India's west coast and links Goa to Mumbai to the north and Mangalore to the south. NH-4A running across the state connects the capital Panjim to Belgaum in east, linking Goa to Bangalore and other cities in Deccan India. Goa has a total of 224 km of National highway, 232 km of state highway and 815 km of district highway.
Hired forms of transport include unmetered taxis, and, in urban areas, auto rickshaws. A unique form of transport in Goa is the Motorcycle taxi, which transports pillion riders short distances. In some places in Goa river crossings which are serviced by the ferry boats, which are run by the river navigation departments. Goa has two rail lines – one run by the Southern Railway and the other by the Konkan Railway. The line run by the Southern Railway was built during the colonial era linking the port town of Vasco to Hubli in Karnataka and passing through the town of Margaon. The Konkan Railway line, which was built during the 1990s, runs parallel to the coast connecting Mumbai to Trivandrum in Kerala.
Goa's sole airport – the Dambolim Airport is a domestic airport catering to local airlines and international airlines that stop en route to other Indian destinations. In addition to regular flights, the airport handles a large number of chartered flights. The Mormugao harbour near the city of Vasco handles international containers. Much of the shipments consist of minerals and ores from Goa's hinterland. Panaji, which is situated on the banks of the Mandovi, also has a minor port, which used to handle passenger steamers between Goa and Bombay till the late 1980s.
Culture
The most popular celebrations in Goa are Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi, New Year's Day, the Shigmo festival and the Carnival. The carnival is celebrated with pomp and revelry and is the only place in India which hosts a carnival. However, since the 1960s, the celebrations of the Shigmo and carnival have shifted to the urban centres, and in recent times these festivals are seen more as a means of attracting tourists. Celebrations for all festivals usually last for a few days and include parties and balls.
Western English songs have a large following in most parts of Goa. Traditional Konkani folk songs too have a sizable following. Manddo, the traditional Goan music which originated in the nineteenth century, is sung and danced on special occasions. Goa is also known for its trance parties, and has given birth to a variant of this type, known as Goa trance.
Rice with fish curry is the staple diet in Goa. Goa is renowned for its rich variety of fish dishes cooked with elaborate recipes. Coconut and coconut oil is widely used in Goan cooking along with chilli, spices and vinegar giving the food a unique flavour. Pork dishes such as Vindaloo, Xacuti and Sorpotel are cooked for major occasions among the Catholics. A rich egg-based multi-layered sweet dish known as bebinca is a favourite at Christmas. The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is feni, which is made from the fermentation of the fruit of the cashew tree.
Goa has two World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jezu Basilica and a few designated convents. The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. Once every decade, the body is taken down for veneration and for public viewing. The last such event was conducted in 2004. The Old Goa region is also known for its medieval European architecture. In many parts of Goa, mansions constructed in the Mediterranean style architecture still stand, though in some villages, most of them are in a dilapidated condition. Fountainhas in Panjim, has been declared a cultural quarter, and are used as a living museum showcasing the life, architecture and culture of Goa. Indigenous architecture is visible in the numerous Hindu temples dotting the state, most notably the Mangueshi Temple.
Football (soccer) is Goa's most popular sport with cricket a close second. Though popular, cricket does not enjoy the same frenzy that has gripped most parts of India. Many of the country's top clubs such as the Vasco, Salgaokar, Dempo and Churchill Brothers are based in Goa. Many Goans also keenly follow international football, especially the Football World Cup and the European Football Championship, events that record the highest viewership in the state as compared to other sporting telecasts such as international cricket popular elsewhere in India.
The state's sole stadium is the Fatorda stadium, located near Margaon. The stadium hosts both international football as well as cricket matches. Cricket is played by many of the youth. Hockey is the third most popular sport. Goa used to be a traditional bastion of hockey talent, though in recent times its popularity has been decreasing.
See also: Music of Goa
Flora and fauna
Forest cover in Goa stands at 1,424 km², most of which is owned by the government.[6] Most of the forests in the state are located in the interior eastern regions of the state. The Western Ghats, which form most of eastern Goa, have been internationally recognised as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. In the February 1999 issue of the National Geographic Magazine, Goa was compared with the Amazon and Congo basins for its rich tropical biodiversity.
The important forests products are bamboo canes, Maratha barks, chillar barks and the bhirand. Coconut trees are ubiquitous and are present in almost all area of Goa barring the elevated regions. A large number of deciduous vegetation consisting of teak, sal, cashew and mango trees are present. Fruits include jackfruits, mangos, pineapples and blackberries.
Foxes, wild boars and migratory birds are found in the jungles of Goa. Avifauna include kingfishers, mynas and parrots. Numerous types of fish is also caught off the coast of Goa and in its rivers. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, jellyfish, oysters and catfish form some of the piscine catch. Goa also has high snake population, which keeps the rodent population in control. Goa has many famous National Parks, including the renowned Salim Ali ornithology sanctuary. Other wildlife sanctuaries include the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Molem Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sancuary and the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.
Media and education
Goa is served by almost all television channels available in India. Channels are received through cable in most parts of Goa. In the interior regions, channels are received via satellite dishes. Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster, has two free terrestrial channels on air. The All India Radio is the only radio channel in the state, broadcasting in both FM and AM bands.Major cellular service operators include Reliance infocomm, Tata Indicom, Hutch, BSNL and Idea!.
Local newspaper publications include the English language Gomantak Times, Navhind Times and Deccan Herald. In addition to these, The Times of India and the Indian Express are also received from Mumbai and Bangalore in the urban areas.
Each taluka is subdivided into villages, each having a school run by the government. However many of the state's residents prefer to enrol in privately run schools which offer better facilities. All schools come under the state SSC whose syllabus is prescribed by the state Education department. There are also two schools run by the all-India ICSE board.
After ten years of schooling, students join a Junior College which offers courses in popular streams such as Science, Arts, Law and Commerce. Additionally, many join three year diploma courses. Two years of college is followed by a professional degree. The Goa University is the sole university in the state and all colleges are affiliated to it. There are two engineering colleges and one medical college in the state. Many residents however choose to take up courses in other states as the demand for a course in Goa is more than that available. Goa is also well-known in India for courses in marine engineering, fisheries, hotel management and cuisine.
External links
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- Government of Goa official website
- Ministry of Tourism
- Goacom directory
- Lonely Planet
- Maps of Goa
- Goa Tourism
- Goainformation
- Amche Goa — Goa: Culture lifestyle heritage, history of Goans
- webindia.com
References
- ^ Facts and Figures About Goa, Nikkis Travel Services verified 2005-04-02
- ^ Economy of Goa, from goenkar.com verified 2005-04-02.
- ^ Odds stacked against Parrikar, Anil Sastry, The Hindu, 2005-01-31, verified 2005-04-02
- ^ Manorama Year Book 2003 — pg 659 – ISBN 81-900461-8-7
- ^ The People, Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, verified 2005-04-02
- ^ Economy of Goa, from goenkar.com, Government owned forest is estimated at 1224.38 sq. kms whilst private is given as 200 sq. kms. verified 2005-04-02.