Dec/2013 Deccan Herald, Press Release/Nilkanth Sah Paddaam, Belgaum.

Velim, 11 kilometers from Margao, South Goa. Dec. 21st 2013. Mr.Venkatesha A. Upadhiaya  today submitted a memorandum to the President of India Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh and Mr. Pravin Srivastava of Archeological Survey of India ASI, demanded to immediately acquire and save the 12th century, Kadamba Jayakeshi Southern Capital Velimpura site which is also the cremation ground of the last Ruler of Hangal located in present day Velim, South Goa ‘a place of National Interest’ from the possession of Mrs Ana Emerita, widow of a great Goan, late Roqiue Santana charging her for constructing on the scared grounds, denying access by locking the compound gates and playing regional card with the pilgrims from the neighboring villages of Karnataka who visit Velim once a year, a centuries old practice and as part of the Banavasi festival celebrations to pay their respect to the 1368AD Velimpura cremation ground of Purandarai-Deva the ruler of Hangal.   Warning the locals who were present here today not to be silent spectators to injustice done to the glorious historical past Mr. Upadhiaya a native of Belgaum lamented while reacting to regionalism that prior to his death in 2007 Roqiue Santana like his father in Portuguese colonial times always  gave a  warm welcome and supply of drinking water as a gesture of respect to the Kannada visitors at the site. Roqiue Santana popularly known as Father of Goa’s Democracy was the local elected representative to liberated Goa legislative Assembly. “No doubt this family is Goan, like thousands of Goans they are of Deccan origin too”. Mr. Upadhiaya said.   Earlier, a man who walked up behind the secured gates calling himself the security for the Roqiue Santana family charged last years pilgrims of criminal mischief, theft and robbery as important antiques went missing following last Dec. pilgrims visit and said that the family has moved out of this country and ordered the driver of the tour bus to get going. Leading the pilgrims Mr. Upadhiaya  82, denied  the allegation here today in Velim saying  that we are always protective of the family and do respect their privacy and recollected his family’s ancestors ties as ‘Sarva-Karyakartas’ meaning chief secretary, a hereditary appointment up to the time when Governor of Madras presidency George Harris under Lord Dalhousie administration confiscated the Haliyal Timber and Construction Lime Co. goods of Roqiue Santan’s greatgrand father in Nov of 1855. Mr. Upadhiaya held that most of the pilgrims are the descendants of the  family’s Haliyal compound work force. Historians hold that  Haliyal yard was basically  Goa  ruling Reigns Armoury and is today converted into Haliyal Bus Terminal. In his memorandum he urged Archeological  Survey Of India (ASI) to atleast save this Velim landmark for future generations.   According to this famous historical source held sacred by Hangal Coterie, Purandarai ruler of Hangal and family on the eve of his fall in 1347 secretly traveled over night to joined his daughter  who herself took shelter in safer Jayakeshi Velimpura compound in 1345 when her husband was assassinated by Mohammedans at present day Chandor. A second wall stone Kannada inscription dated 1396 in the Velim compound marks the death and cremation of  Veenomai-Devi beauty and wife of  Suriya-Deva, slain Sovereign at Chandrapur palace, daughter of  Late Purandaraideva, Kadambarasa of Hangal confirms this history. It can be infered from the Velim inscription that Goa Kadamba Suriya-Deva  son of Beera, was married to the nearby royal bride who was his distance cousin. Mr. Upadhiaya said.   Before adopting Portuguese Catholicism this Velimpura family’s ancestors had given up worship in their temples for fear of Mohammedan trap, reinvented themselves as Haliyal timber lords where converted by Orthodox Nasranis of Malabar in early1400’s. Some of the Syrian origin worship items and anointing oil alabastrons saved by Upadhiaya’s great grand father and moved to Belgaum after the 1855 British confiscation of Haliyal compound is convincing evidence. Further, quoting Kannada stone inscriptions on Konkan sea pirate Timu “enemy turned friend” recovered from  present day Haliyal Bus stand tell that Timu in those crucial years provided protection for their ancestors in return for timber for his shipbuilding needs had exploited this converts fear issue and used Portuguese forces to drive Mohammedans away and enforced his Timu administration in Goa in 1510. The Portuguese  in a while overpowered Timu and colonized Goa. It is a well known historical conclusion that this Christian connection attracted early Jesuits including Francis Xavier  to visit Velimpura first for refreshment before traveling inland for conversions, he added.   Prof. Nilkanth Sah Paddaam in this press release said here today that a six member delegation headed by Mr. Upadhiaya is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to follow up with his memorandum.

Dec/2013 Deccan Herald, Press Release/Nilkanth Sah Paddaam, Belgaum.