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.