Everyone is talking about Muslim rulers like Aurangzeb, Tipu Sultan etc. Let me introduce a new player in the game. They are none other than...
Goa Inquisition
Earlier, majority of Goans were Hindus and rest were Buddhist, Jews and Muslims. It started from 1560 and ended up in 1820. The main aim was to convert these people into Christianity. Hindus were the special target. Some Historians say that Goa had been a tolerant place in the sixteenth century, but the Goan Inquisition had turned it into a hostile location for Hindus and members of other Asian religions. Temples had been razed, public Hindu rituals forbidden and conversions to Hinduism severely punished. Though in current scenario Goa is one of the best examples of religious tolerance. But it was not the case that time.
Hindu ceremonies like celebrating festivals, weddings were banned. Government do not have any particular record of number of temples broken. But it is estimated that around 700 temples were broken.
Many laws to oppose Hindus were made such as the child whose father died was supposed to convert to Christianity. Hindu women were not allowed to have rights over the property of parents unless they convert. Hindu preists were not allowed to enter Portuguese Goa. In legal proceedings, Hindus were unacceptable as witnesses, only statements from Christian witnesses were admissible. Hindus were denied employment. Books written in Konkani, Sanskrit and other local languages were burnt. All the people above 15 years of age were forced to listen to Christian preaching. Those who didn’t abide by these laws were punished. Many times Christians used to report if they saw any idols or image of Gods.
The punishments were very harsh. The person was forced to sit in boiling water, nails were plucked, women were raped, they were burnt alive etc.
Most of the records of Goa inquisition were destroyed after 1812. Till that time most people were converted to Christianity.
Where did it start from?
In 1516 a Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier requested this inquisition to take place from the king. The king immediately accepted it. In the beginning more than 16000 persons were brought for trial.
The body of the same “great” St. Francis Xavier lies in Basilica of Bom Jesus and people worship it.
Goa inquisition is considered to be one of the harshest period in whole history of India. The people who talk about Islamic extremism, your history is also same in fact it is more cruel. Demographics of region were totally changed by force.
Footnotes
Goa Inquisition: Portugese Massacre of Innocent Hindus and Destruction of Temples
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