FN Eightysix-year-old Fr Joseph Velinkar disappointed a fairly crowded gathering at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research on Thursday evening -- but due to no fault of his. The priest-historian suffered a bout of what appeared to be high blood pressure and was unable to deliver a speech many came tp hear.
The octogenarian has also just authored a comprehensive book on the history of Goa, called *On The Spice Trail: Europe Discovers India in Goa* [http://bit.ly/1S7Sjiw] and has spent a lifetime taking an active interest in tracking Goa-related historical issues, despite being largely based in Mumbai and elsewhere. Bombay-born of Goan parentage (Baga-Velim and Ambelim), he studied at St Xavier's High School and College, University of Bombay, and joined the Jesuits seven decades ago. He has held posts such as Assistant Rector of St Pius Seminary and St Xavier’s College, Bombay; Director of Heras Institute, Bombay; Principal of St Gonsalo Garcia College, Vasai and the Rector of St Xavier’s College, Bombay. He has attended many conferences in India, Portugal, Hong Kong and other countries and has published over 70 articles and several books, the latest of which is *On the Spice Trail*. This wide-angle look at Goan history situates this region amidst its natural features and resources (land, importantly water, and air) and points to the 'joustling for power' among various sections of the people that settled in Goa. >From the entry for Goa's early people, to the tale of Goa's birth, and Asians and Africans in Goa, the book covers much ground in brief passages and talks about past dynasties that ruled Goa, both pre-Portuguese and post-1610. Besides the history of the rulers -- and the many entanglements (such as Jesuit missions to Emperor Akbar, Adilshahi-Portuguese wars), Velinkar's work also touches on Goan society (Euro-Asiatic miscegenation, prominent caste groups, and more). It gives glimpses into the Goan economy, natural resources, and trade and commerce. The arrival of Christianity, and the European press in Goa, is also focussed on, as are diverse issues like coinage, imports, exotic vegetables and caste. Goa's history has been a contentious area. While some prefer to dwell largely on the negative and unpleasant sides of the encounter between the West and this tiny region on the west coast, others have sought to situate the happenings in the wider context of global and Indo-European history. Speaking at the function, which was originally meant to focus on 'Goa in the 16th Century under the Portuguese', historian Dr Sushila Sawant-Mendes, stressed on Dr Velinkar's meticulous search for source material. Elsewhere, the Indian Christian Writing blog, [http://indianchristianwritings.blogspot.in/], one of the half-dozen-and-one blogs maintained by the Goan-origin prominent Salesian priest Ivo Coelho, also looks at the writing of Velinkar [http://bit.ly/1QcmlHT]. This 2009 blog post says that Velinkar had encouraged his students to collect material on Rudolph Aquivava and Thomas Stephens, early pioneering Jesuits in India. He had been interested in the history of the Jesuits in India when the order had been suppressed. Trichy (and later Shembaganur), Calcutta (Goethals Library) and Mumbai might be good places to local relevant documents, it quotes Velinkar saying. Velinkar has worked with and met prominent names from the world of Goan history, the likes of which we only read or hear about -- George Mark Moraes (author of the 'Kadamba Kula') and Fr Gomes Catao. He has guided research students for the University of Bombay, has headed the Heras Institute, and was at the helm of the 'Indica' magazine on Indian history. Meanwhile, German anthropologist Alexander Henn will be the next speaker at the XCHR's History Hour series in mid-July. ###