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Goan Muslims
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| Languages | |
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| Urdu and Konkani | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Goans, Nawayath, Konkani Muslims |
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The Goan Muslims are a minority community who follow Islam in the western Indian coastal state of Goa. They are native to Goa, unlike recent Muslim migrants from mainland India. They are commonly referred as Moir (Konkani: मैर) by Goan Catholics and Hindus.[a] Moir is derived from the Portuguese word mour. The Portuguese called them Mouros because they (and the Spaniards) were in contact with the Muslims of Morocco, who had conquered the Iberian Peninsula.[1]
History[edit]
Although the advent of Muslims in Goa occurred later in history, Arab geographers referred to Goa as Sindabur and believed that Goa had one of the best ports in western India. In 554 AH (1159 AD), Sidi Ali Kodupon wrote the Turkish-language book Mohit. In the book, Goa is referred to as Kuvah-Sindabur: a combination of the names Kuvah (Goa) and Sindabur (Chandor).[2]
The copper plate of Kadamba Jayakesi I refers to the Muslim Minister named Chadma. While Kadamba ruler Gullhadeva I was sailing towards Somanath, his ship got involved in a naval accident and the mast of his ship broke. His grandson Jayakesi I gave Chadma, the privilege of levying the taxes on small and big boats. The amount collected by way of taxes was utilized for the maintenance of the mosques built in Goa at Merces).[3] Later Muslim sultans from North India migrated to Goa by force of conquest and established their society; this was the first major influx of Muslims into Goa, which led some local Hindus to migrate elsewhere.[4] After Malik Kafur invasion and subsequently during the rule of Sultanate, there were Muslim Officers in Goa like Malik Bahadur. After the downfall of the Goa Kadamba, some Muslims might have migrated to Bhatkal and Honavar. The Nawayaths of Bhatkal are the descendant of Muslim community and once lived in Goa.[5]
The Delhi Sultanate took over Goa in 1312, destroying the city of Govapuri and demolishing shrines.[6][7] In turn, they were forced to surrender Goa by 1370 to Harihara I of Vijayanagara. The Vijayanagara monarchs ruled Goa for the next hundred years (until 1469), before it passed to the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After the Bahmani Sultanate collapsed the Adil Shahis of Bijapur took over, making Velha Goa their ancillary capital. During this era, Muslim pilgrims from all over India embarked on their journey to Mecca from Goa.[8] Thus by this time Muslim community evolved in Goa as a combination conversions and intermarriage with local converts.[9]
By the time the Portuguese arrived in 1510, the population of Tiswadi had a Muslim majority due to mass immigration from Bijapur.[10] Afonso de Albuquerque took the help of Timoji and defeated the ruling Bijapur king Yusuf Adil Shah during the Portuguese conquest of Goa. The Bijapur Muslim residents of Goa were exiled (e.g. Benastarim) or killed (e.g. Velha Goa) by the Portuguese and the local Hindus. All the mosques (which were previously built on temples) were destroyed and churches were built on them.[11]
From 1560 to 1821, the Goa Inquisition was established. One of its primary targets were crypto-Muslims of North African origin who had immigrated to Goa from the Iberian peninsula following the Portuguese conquest. Of the 1,582 persons convicted between 1560 and 1623, 45.2% were convicted for offenses related to Judaism and Islam.[12] However, a compilation of the auto-da-fé statistics of the Goa Inquisition from 1560 to 1821 revealed that a grand total of only 57 persons were burnt in the flesh and 64 in effigy (i.e. a statue resembling the person). All the burnt were convicted as relapsed heretics or for sodomy.[13]
Demography[edit]
Native Goan Muslims are concentrated in the Novas Conquistas regions of Sattari, Bicholim, Sanguem, Ponda.[14] Their language parallels Dakhini of the Deccan Plateau. This dialect of Urdu has heavy Konkani influence and may be considered the "Konkani slang" of Goan Muslims.[15] Goan Muslims are bilingual (speaking Konkani outside the home); some are educated in Marathi,[16][17] and they use the Perso-Arabic and Devanagari scripts for written communication.[16] Muslims resident in Goa constituted 8.33% of Goa population in 2011, but of these only a tiny minority are native Goans.[18]
Culture[edit]
Castes[edit]
The majority of Goan Muslims follow Sunni Islam,[16] the predominant groups being that of:
- Mullas (Mulam in Portuguese),
- Muzawars (Muzavor in Portuguese),
- Sayyids (Soiada in Portuguese),
- Shaikhs (Xec in Portuguese),
- Khans (Can in Portuguese),
- Khojas (Coja in Portuguese),
- Bhoras (Bori in Portuguese).
- The Mesquitas are descendants of Muslim converts to Christianity.
Festivals[edit]
They observe all Muslim holidays and festivals such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Eid-e-Milad.
Inter-Communal Relations[edit]
Goans have had a history of relative peace and harmony for hundreds years, without religious violence. One exception was the Goan Hindu-Muslim riot of 2006. A riot had erupted after a mob demolished a madrassa on March 2-3, 2006, which was allegedly constructed illegally on the outskirts of Sanvordem-Curchorem. The violence, which continued for three days before the Central Industrial Security Force stepped in, saw property worth crores of rupees destroyed.[19]
Law[edit]
Goan Muslims as well as Goans from other religions are governed by a Portuguese Civil code based on the progressive old Portuguese Family Laws. Unsuccessful attempts were made for a change towards enforcing Muslim personal law since the early 1970s.[20] Personal law of Hindus and Muslims is not recognized in Goa.
Cuisine[edit]
Like Goans of other faiths, Goan Muslims' staple foods are rice and fish. Sea food is preferred to mutton and biryani is a delicacy only during festivals like Eid.[21]
Notes[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ↑ Śiroḍakara,Mandal, Anthropological Survey of Indi, Pra. Pā ,H K. (1993). People of India: Goa. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 167. ISBN 9788171547609.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay". Asiatic Society of Bombay. 11: 292.
- ↑ Moraes, George M. (1995). The Kadamba Kula. Asian Educational Services. p. 400. ISBN 9788120605954.
- ↑ Kurzon, Dennis (2004). Where East Looks West: Success in English in Goa and on the Konkan Coast Volume 125 of Multilingual matters. Multilingual Matters. p. 76. ISBN 9781853596735.
- ↑ Mitragotri, Vithal Raghavendra (1999). A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara. Institute Menezes Braganza. pp. 74–75.
- ↑ De Souza, Teotonio R. (1989). Essays in Goan History. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 13–14. ISBN 9788170222637.
- ↑ Bradnock, Robert W.; Bradnock, Roma (2000). Goa handbook. Footprint Handbooks. pp. 214, 253. ISBN 9781900949453.
- ↑ Kurzon, Dennis (2004). Where East looks West: success in English in Goa and on the Konkan Coast. Multilingual Matters. p. 76. ISBN 9781853596735.
- ↑ D'Souza, Bento Graciano (1975). Goan Society in Transition: A Study in Social Change. Popular Prakashan. p. 54.
- ↑ Machado Prabhu, Alan (1999). Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians. I.J.A. Publications.
- ↑ Crowley, Roger (2015). Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire. London: Faber & Faber.
- ↑ Delgado Figueira, João (1623). Listas da Inquisição de Goa (1560-1623). Lisbon: Biblioteca National.
- ↑ de Almeida, Fortunato (1923). História da Igreja em Portugal, vol. IV. Porto: Portucalense Editora.
- ↑ Śiroḍakara, Pra. Pā (1992). Goa's external relations: seminar papers. Rajhauns Vitaran.
- ↑ Śiroḍakara, Pra. Pā (1992). Goa's external relations: seminar papers. Rajhauns Vitaran. p. 12.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Śiroḍakara, Mandal, Pra. Pā , H. K. (1993). People of India: Goa. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 167, xviii. ISBN 9788171547609.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Fatihi, A. R. "URDU IN GOA". LANGUAGE IN INDIA. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ "India's religions by numbers". The Hindu (published 26 August 2015). 29 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ↑ "Communal violence in Goa". Gomantak Times. 3–4 March 2006. p. 1.
- ↑ Siddiqi,Zuberi, Zakia A., Anwar Jahan (1993). Muslim women: problems and prospects. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 31. ISBN 9788185880044.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Chapman, Pat (2009). India: Food & Cooking: The Ultimate Book on Indian Cuisine. New Holland Publishers. p. 38. ISBN 9781845376192.
- ↑ Furtado, A. D. (1981). Goa, yesterday, to-day, tomorrow: an approach to various socio-economic and political issues in Goan life & re-interpretation of historical facts. Furtado's Enterprises. p. xviii.
- ↑ Gomantak:Prakruti ani Sanskruti-Goa:Nature and Culture, volume I, by Satoskar B.D