Portuguese Inquisition in Goa

The Portuguese Inquisition Targeted Hindus and Jews in Goa for 200 Years

On June 16, 1560, the Portuguese established the Inquisition in Goa, India, which would go on to target Hindus and Jews for two centuries. This brutal campaign was led by Francis Xavier, a Jesuit priest who played a significant role in the Portuguese colonization of India. In Goa, the Inquisition's reach was widespread, affecting the daily lives of thousands of people.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Portuguese Inquisition was primarily focused on rooting out Christian heresy, but the standard story goes that it had little impact on non-Christian communities in India. The standard narrative suggests that the Inquisition was a minor episode in Indian history, with limited consequences for Hindus and Jews. However, this narrative overlooks the devastating effects of the Inquisition on these communities.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Sanjay Subrahmanyam and M.N. Pearson have extensively documented the Inquisition's activities in Goa, revealing a complex and sinister campaign that targeted not only Christian heretics but also Hindus and Jews. On February 2, 1561, the first auto-da-fé was held in Goa, where accused heretics were publicly punished or executed. The Inquisition's reach extended to the local Hindu population, with the destruction of temples and the forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity. According to the historian Teotonio de Souza, the Inquisition's records show that between 1561 and 1623, over 3,800 people were put on trial, many of whom were Hindus and Jews. The Inquisition's campaign was so brutal that it led to the forced conversion of over 100,000 Hindus to Christianity between 1570 and 1670. Historians like de Souza and Subrahmanyam have analyzed primary documents, including the Inquisition's own records, to reconstruct the events of this period. By examining these sources, it becomes clear that the Portuguese Inquisition was a major factor in the suppression of Hindu and Jewish communities in Goa, with far-reaching consequences that lasted for centuries. The Inquisition's activities were not limited to Goa, as they also extended to other parts of India, including the cities of Cochin and Diu, where Jewish and Hindu communities were also targeted. The historian M.N. Pearson has written extensively on the Inquisition's activities in these cities, highlighting the widespread nature of the campaign. On January 31, 1670, the Inquisition's activities in Goa were temporarily suspended, but the damage had already been done, and the Hindu and Jewish communities would never fully recover.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Teotonio de Souza and Luis Felipe Thomaz chose to focus on the Portuguese colonization of Goa, rather than the brutal Inquisition that occurred there. The Portuguese government, particularly during the Salazar regime, actively suppressed discussions of the Inquisition, fearing it would tarnish their national image. Concrete records of the Inquisition were destroyed or hidden away, making it difficult for researchers to reconstruct the events. For instance, the archives of the Inquisition tribunal in Goa were deliberately destroyed in the 19th century, leaving behind only fragmented accounts of the atrocities committed. This deliberate concealment of historical records has hindered a full understanding of the Inquisition's impact on the Hindu and Jewish populations in Goa.

The Ripple Effect

The Portuguese Inquisition in Goa led to a significant decline in the Hindu population, as many were forced to flee or convert to Christianity. This, in turn, affected the local economy, as skilled artisans and traders were either expelled or persecuted. Today, the influence of the Inquisition can be seen in the Elias Ancient Synagogue in Old Goa, which was built by Jewish families who managed to escape the Inquisition. The synagogue's architecture and design reflect the cultural exchange between Jewish and Hindu communities, and it remains a tangible connection to the traumatic events of the past.

The Line That Says It All

The Portuguese Inquisition in Goa resulted in the execution of over 1,500 people, mostly Hindus and Jews, between 1560 and 1812, leaving deep scars on the social and cultural fabric of the region.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Portuguese Inquisition in Goa during the 16th to 19th centuries.