From: Eugene Correia Subject: Re: [Goanet] Dr. Kranti's talk at Active Goan Adults group
One of the interesting point in her talk was when she said that Goans could have a DNA of the Jews. Dr. Kranti presently explores and researches this notion, as the theory was conveyed to her by a foreign researcher. -------------------- Why does Goan history need conjectures rather than definitive information? Is it too difficult to accept that Goans in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries behaved the same way and for the same reasons as Goans in the 19th, 20th and 21st century? Very likely after native Goans were displaced by the colonists who wanted their land and resources in the early 16th century, there was an in-migration as Goa was approaching it economic golden era. This was mid-16th to mid-17th century. Even during this shinning century there was periods of economic downturns as for the years when the Dutch blockaded Goa; bringing economic activity and trade to a standstill. During Goa's golden era, the city of Velha Goa was comparable in population and wealth (economic activity) to the largest cities in Europe - Lisbon, Madrid, Florence, Venice; and much lager than London or Paris. Once the Golden Age of Goa ended in the mid-seventeenth century, (and Goans tasted middle-class living standards), Goa's residents of all (ethnic and mixed ethnic) backgrounds left Goa in droves - back to live with relatives in India and Portugal; and many to settle and start a new life in Brazil and other Portuguese and English colonies in Africa and Asia. Goans migrated to many other parts of India and other parts of Asian subcontinent including current-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, South East Asia. Naturally, there were from time to time other factors that also forced Goan out-migration - wars, droughts, floods, famines and epidemics. Regarding one or two Goans with Jewish DNA or one cross found by the Pilar fathers does not make history. These are interesting anecdotal cases that gets repeated again and again. Goa was a major port on the west coast of India. Certainly there were plenty of objects (destined for elsewhere) that fell in the river while loading and unloading cargo at Goa Velha. And of course the Christian Malayalese of Kerala were also migrating and some could have settled down in Goa. We still have to see an archaeological discovery their place of worship. Regards, GL
