Cuncolim a very historical town is prosperous compare to it immediate neighbours due to its fertile land and fields with abundance of fresh water from streams flowing towards is from the hinterland lands beyond. Cuncolim has also been returned surplus agricultural production both in grains and coconuts.
From times immemorial skilled craftsmen like carpenters, masons, gun smith and others have emerged from here. If one inquires from elderly folks they are bound to tell you that antique furniture in old Portuguese mansions were prepared by the carpenters hailing for this place. In fact it is written in the annals of history that the Portuguese prepared their guns in Cuncolim and compared them to the made in Germany.
The people of this town till date have a very defiant attitude and just cannot be cowed down by mere posturing and this made them to stand-up to the erstwhile Portuguese rulers thereby marking history with a trail of blood and death.
History
Before the Portuguese set foot in Goa in 1510, Cuncolim was inhabited mostly by devout Hindu population hailing from Kshatriya caste.
The Portuguese rulers to fulfil the wishes of Christian faith sent missionaries to Goa to propagate it. The colonial government in Goa supported the conversions with incentives. Rice was given to the poor, good positions in the Portuguese colonies to the middle class and military support for local rulers.
As time passed the Portuguese started destroying temples. Many Hindu temples at Assolna and Cuncolim were also destroyed against the wishes of the local population.
The main reason for which displeased the local population the traditional fairs connected with temple and religious festivities constituted the bazaar economy of Cuncolim. The demolition of temples meant denial of religious and cultural traditions which in-turn disturbed the social structure and local economy.
Angered by this Gaunkars refused to pay rent to the Portuguese authorities. They defied the colonial rulers and refused to give up their practice of the Hindu religion, constructed temples which were destroyed challenging the ban. Due to this defiance missionaries found it impossible to convert them.
Five Jesuits massacred
Five Jesuits met in Orlim Church in 1583, and proceeded to Cuncolim, with the objective of erecting a cross and selecting ground for building a church.
Hearing this, villagers after holding a council, advanced in large numbers, armed with swords, lances, and other weapons, towards the spot where the Jesuits priests, one European civilian and 14 native Christian had assembled and massacred them there . A “Martyrs” chapel was erected, dedicated to the priests and layman killed in 1583.
Another Chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, was the site where the bodies of the murdered priests were dumped in a well. The well still stands today inside the chapel and is opened for people to view once a year during the feast of St. Xavier.
Portuguese avenges the murder
Following the massacre, the chief of the Portuguese Army in retaliation destroyed orchards in the village and unleashed many atrocities on the local population. Subsequently the local leaders from the Kshatriya Gaunkars community of Cuncolim were invited for talks at the Assolna fort situated on the banks of the River Sal. Sixteen of the seventeen leaders were executed while one escaped. As of today Assolna church is constructed at the fort site where the villagers were put to death.
Chieftains Memorial
In 2003, Prof. late Vermissio Coutinho, head of the Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Trust. Constructed a memorial in memory of the slain chieftains.
Even to this day, after more than 5 centuries the animosity between the Gaunkars and others surfaces but overall the villagers have moved forward and the both the communities live in harmony.
Development
One could say Cuncolim a village with 12 Municipal wards has seen lots of development over the years. They can boast of a modern bus terminal, fish market and community halls. There is an industrial estate which caters to the employment needs of sizeable population.
However there are pitfalls because of the pollution laden industries. Some years back people had to rise against hazardous waste disposal throwing safety norms to the winds. Industrial units were blamed for pollution of groundwater with heavy metals like zinc, cadmium, copper, nickel and other polluting solvents
Personalities of Cuncolim
Prof. late Vermissio Coutinho was instrumental in leading his villagers to build the memorial for the chieftains massacred by the Portuguese. Former MLA and Chief Justice (rtd.) of Allahabad High Court Ferdino Rebello. Goa Bench High Court Judge (rtd) Nelson Britto. Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik. Konkani writer late Fr. Planton Faria. Superintendent of Police (rtd) Tony Fernandes. Elvis Gomes another son of the soil who recently opted for voluntary retirement from government services to take plunge in politics is held in high regard in Cuncolim.
No comments:
Post a Comment