MARGAO, JULY 15
Terming it a complete “lie” claims in certain quarters that the 1583 Cuncolim Revolt was a religious one, Adv Radharao Gracias has said it is high time the Goa government to record the historical revolt in the school text books for the students to emulate the valour and struggle of the people of Cuncolim.
Gracias was addressing the function organised by the Cuncolim Chieftain’s Memorial Committee to commemorate 427 years of the Cuncolim Revolt at Cuncolim on Thursday.
“Those who say that the Cuncolim revolt was a religious revolt is a complete lie. If the Cuncolim revolt was a religious revolt, the 1857 revolt should also be a religious revolt as the mutiny by Hindu and Muslim sepoys took place over cartridges made of pork fat’, he said.
Saying that the Cuncolim revolt was a genuine revolt by the Cuncolim people, Gracias reminded that the Portuguese had a virtual free run in Salcete Taluka, before the first challenge came from Cuncolim. “The people of Cuncolim and the Desais stood up to the challenge, because they were the warriors. That needs to be appreciated”, he said.
Saying that the Pinto revolt -- which came many years after the Cuncolim revolt -- has a place in the history books, Gracias said the government should recognize the Cuncolim revolt by including it as a chapter in the history books. “Not just the 1583 revolt, Cuncolim gave so many freedom fighters. Even now, the village has contributed much to the State,” he said, while making a mention of the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Ferdino Rebello and Justice Nelson Britto of the Bombay High Court – both sons of Cuncolim.
Making an appeal to local MLA and Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao to take up the matter with the government, Gracias underlined the need to recognize the efforts of the local freedom fighters.
In his address, the Urban Development Minister said Cuncolim was the first village to revolt against the Portuguese when their temples and culture were destroyed. Alemao said he had already given a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Education Minister and the Education Director to include Cuncolim’s revolt in the history book and vowed to fight till the demand is fulfilled.
Earlier, member of the Cuncolim Chieftain Committee, Oscar Martins made a forceful demand to the government to include the Cuncolim revolt in the history books without delay. Prominent personalities were felicitated on the occasion.