Vasco da Gama

[JOHN DE FIGUEIREDO]

     Let us not be elitist when judging Vasco da Gama. If he came from a lower social class (meaning, I trust, that he came from a poor family with a low educational level), then my admiration for him is even greater. Clearly, he had to overcome a significant social disadvantage to master and excel in the science and art of navigation and to convince his King that a “commoner” like him was up to the extraordinary mission of commanding a fleet from Portugal to India and back. And he did this, not once or twice, but 5 times. He connected the dots and demonstrated how this could be achieved. Was he helped by others? Sure. He was helped by the discovery of Bartolomeu Dias that Africa had an end and by the Arab pilot who guided him from East Africa to India. But so were Watson and Crick in their discovery of the structure of DNA. They were helped by the previous discoveries of Erwin Chargaff and Rosalind Franklin. This is how human knowledge advances, step by step, one discovery leading to the next one. His important achievement set the stage for an unprecedented globalization of knowledge. Was he perfect? Far from it. Understanding something is not the same as excusing it. What he did to the Muslim pilgrims is abominable by today’s standards, but it was (as Frederick said) fair game in his time. In 1469, Virupaksha I, Emperor of Vijayanagara, ordered the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Bhatkal. The few who survived fled to (guess where) Goa, where they found a home and thrived. Let us not be harsher in our judgment of Vasco da Gama just because he was a European or he was from a “lower class.” It really does not matter what Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, or Parsis think of Vasco da Gama. History is a science based on data, not on public opinion. My point is that as Viceroy of India, his message to fellow Europeans was: “If you are corrupt and steal from the public treasury, I will punish you.” And that is exactly what he did, and this is why we, Goans, should respect and admire Vasco da Gama as a person with integrity. It was a risky decision. With the benefit of hindsight, we can say that several of his successors as Governors or Viceroys (including our own Barnardo Peres da Silva) were deposed by military coups when they attempted to do what he did. A Secretary of State (European), who was, like Gama, a person with integrity, was assassinated in plain daylight in front of the Government Palace in Panjim by some fellow Europeans who saw him as an obstacle to their schemes and scams. Imagine a scenario in which Vasco da Gama looked the other way and may have even pocketed some money himself. Today, we would correctly say that he was a thief and a party to a cover-up. But that is not what he did. 

     Why did the Portuguese occupy and settle in Goa? Good question. The last time I heard this question was from my friend Luiz de Camoes. He had Vasco da Gama being asked: “Quem te trouxe a estoutro mundo, tão longe da tua Pátria Lusitana?” (“Who brought you to this other world, so far away from your Lusitanian Motherland? "). This question raises all sorts of other questions. What made the Kadambas infiltrate Goa after they were defeated by the Chalukyas and conquer Goa, defeating its legitimate Goan Kings? What made the Yadavas conquer Goa, terrorize the Goans, and impose their language (Marathi) on the Goans? What made the Bahmanis and the Delhi Muslims invade Goa and terrorize the Goans? What made Vijayanagara conquer Goa? What forced Goa into the Sultanate of Bijapur? The only answer that comes to my mind is what my teacher of History at the Liceu, Rev. Dr. Antonio Garcia, S.J., used to say: “Just like in the big ocean the big fish eat the small fish, so the stronger peoples invade and conquer the weaker ones.” Happens even to this day, right under our noses. It seems to me that the fundamental misconception in this conversation is to view the Portuguese in Vasco da Gama’s time as foreigners. In fact, they were not “more foreigners” or “less foreigners” in Gama’s time than the Kadambas, the Yadavas, and all those other guys. The Portuguese only became foreigners in India on August 15, 1947, the day when the “tryst with Destiny” occurred (to use the famous expression of Jawaharlal Nehru). This is why an agent of Vijayanagara approached Afonso de Albuquerque with the assent of some Goans and asked him to free Goa from Bijapur.

Sorry for this long note.  

John M. de Figueiredo

[Edgar Valles]

Very good and deep explanation , about Portuguese role in Goa, the one made by John de Figueiredo. I  agree with it.

However, the last conclusion may arise controversy:

"The Portuguese only became foreigners in India on August 15, 1947, the day when the “tryst with Destiny” occurred (to use the famous expression of Jawaharlal Nehru).".

This would be true if Goa was integrated into British India. But it was not the case, Goa was a Portuguese colony and the independence of India didn't change its status. 

For example, Indonesia became independent in 1945 and Portugal ruled Timor Leste until Indonesia invaded it in 1975. Portuguese didn't become foreigners in Timor Leste in 1945, just because Indonesia became independent. 

By the way, as the people of Timor Leste didn't accept the invasion by Indonesia and fought, they were able to exercise the right of self determination in a referendum and on the 2th May 2002  independence was proclaimed. Indonesia , the invasor,was forced to give up Timor Leste.

According to the principles of Bandung Conference in 1955 and the United Nation rules,  people of a  colonial territory should be allowed to decide their own future. So, if Portuguese presence in Goa was legimitated till 1947, it didn't become illegitimate just because India became independent in 1947. 

It would be different if Goans expressed the decision to be part of India at that time. Then, Portuguese would be "foreigners in Goa" from that year...

My thoughts are not politically motivated, as the past belongs to the past. ..

Edgar Valles

Lisbon

 

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[albe...@sapo.pt]

Talking about the wars in the Indian subcontinent, Kadamba, Yadava, etc., doesn't justify anything, because in Europe there were also wars between the Portuguese and Spanish, Germans and French, Napoleon and Hitler wanted to invade Russia and were defeated, etc., but these were wars between neighbors on the same continent. (Europe was responsible for both world wars).  

What do Asians, Africans, native Brazilians, First Nations of Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand think when Vasco, Albuquerque, Columbus, Pizarro, and Cortés are mentioned? That they were pirates who came from afar to steal, enslave, etc. Even today in Hungary and Poland, the Mongols of Genkis Khan are classified as savages who came to steal.

The opinions of these people are WORTH MORE THAN the illusory grandeur of the invaders.

The statues erected of them in the former colonies were torn down because they celebrated and represented the excruciating suffering of innocent people. These statues were transferred to museums so that future generations could learn about the past.

Monuments honoring Josef Stalin disappeared from Eastern European countries after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2003, US Army soldiers destroyed the statue of Saddam Hussein in Karbala after the invasion of Iraq. In the US, several monuments linked to slavery and colonialism, such as statues of Columbus, were targeted. In the United Kingdom, the statue of the trafficker Edward Colston was torn down. And in São Paulo, protesters set fire to a statue of the bandeirante Borba Gato - a fugitive from the law, gold smuggler, linked to the enslavement of Indians and blacks in Brazil and who played a prominent role in the expeditions into the Brazilian hinterland.

Many of the sailors who accompanied Gama were CRIMINALS RELEASED FROM PRISON.

Even after Angola's independence, for example, a group of far-left activists from Portugal landed in Luanda and tried to overthrow the legitimate government of Agostinho Neto. They were repelled and thrown into a mass grave. This is anti-colonial history.

History is a science based on data, not on public opinion? History is based on the testimonies of the conquerors/victors, based on ideologies, racial supremacy, etc. It is not an exact science. Mathematics is considered an exact science. So, 2 plus 2 equals 4 and there's no arguing about it, and it's the same throughout the universe.

Alberto

 

 

 

----- Mensagem de Edgar Valles <> ---------

Data: Sun, 4 Jan 2026 09:04:30 +0000

De: Edgar Valles <>

Assunto: Re: [GRN] Vasco da Gama

Para:

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAEXcPuqXto0rsP4rc8-PuMTFt%2BWLpcPAe-L12TwP30-6wzAcew%40mail.gmail.com

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----- Fim da mensagem de Edgar Valles <> -----

[Marianne de Nazareth]

Thank you John for your detailed expl

Dr Marianne de Nazareth

Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald,

Freelance Environmental Journalist

Fellow UNFCCC, UNEP, UNWater

Editor Romantic Getaways https://www.bellaonline.com/

http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/

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[JOHN DE FIGUEIREDO]

Without wanting to prolong this conversation, I will summarize what I said:

(1) I believe we, Goans, should continue to respect and admire Vasco da Gama for two reasons: (a) because he connected the dots and demonstrated that it is possible to travel by sea from Portugal to India and back, thus opening the door to an unprecedented globalization of knowledge; and (b) because as Viceroy of India he was a person with integrity and punished the thieves (all of whom happened to be European like him) who were stealing from the public treasury. The data show this beyond a shadow of doubt.

(2) The Portuguese did not become foreigners until August 15, 1947. Goa was an integral part of the Portuguese Nation and the Goans were Portuguese citizens, and this fact was recognized by the Government of India for many years by having a Consulate of India in Goa after August 15, 1947.

(3) Whether Goa was a colony or not is highly debatable. Those who believe that Goa was a colony should applaud Salazar's "Acto Colonial" and not condemn it. They cannot have it both ways.

With this I will rest my case.

Thank you for your attention and best regards,

John M. de Figueiredo

 

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[JOHN DE FIGUEIREDO]

It is a commonly held misconception to say that some sciences are “exact” and other sciences are ”not exact.” All sciences, including history, are exact. Some sciences, like physics, are quantitative and focused on prediction and universal laws. Other sciences, like history, are qualitative and focused on explanation of particular events. In history we study narratives, documents and other contemporary data sources, and aim at interpretation and understanding of contextual meaning. The ultimate arbiters of competing interpretations are data (evidence). Unless we are studying current events, the sources of historical research on past events do not include current public (population) opinions. The study of current public (population) opinions may belong to sociology but does not belong to history. What makes history an exact science is that like physics and other quantitative sciences, history is rigorous and evidence based. Even in history, some researchers use quantitative methods, moving beyond the traditional narrative method. Of course, all truths in every science are temporary and could be revised if new evidence demonstrates that what we believed is true turns out to be false or a particular case of an established truth. For example, on the basis of the evidence now available, it would false (i.e., an untruth) to say that during his tenure as Viceroy of India, Vasco da Gama was a racist, no matter how palatable this statement is to modern day politicians. In fact, just the opposite is true. If new evidence emerges that shows that Vasco da Gama was a racist as Viceroy of India, I will study that evidence, and if I find it convincing, I will be the first one to admit the previous belief was false and the new one is true.

John M. de Figueiredo

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[Edgar Valles]

Concerning the accusation that "Many of the sailors who accompanied Gama were CRIMINALS RELEASED FROM PRISON", this is not entirely true. Most of the sailors were people from the interior of Portugal, who had never see the sea and were not aware of the danger of the oceans. People who lived in the littoral of Portugal were afraid of the sea and didn't want to go to the ships (one third of the ships that went to India sank).Of course, there were also criminals. as there were criminals in all armies.

Concerning Angola, it is not true that "a group of far-left activists from Portugal landed in Luanda and tried to overthrow the legitimate government of Agostinho Neto". As Albert mentioned,the winners write History, not the defeated.

Angola is now one of the most corrupt regimes in the world. A very rich country, where people live miserably. This began to happen soon after independence. 

A very large group of militants of the liberation movement tried to avoid the path of corruption and keep the way to a real independence. Agostinho Neto and his followers aniquilated this group and many angolan innocents, murdering about 30 000 angolans...

Edgar Valles

Lisbon

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[António Colaço]

At Vasco da Gama's time there were neither Pacts, nor international law, nor UNO. We live in the 21st century. How to analyse USA's act against Venezuela in the light of the saying that "big fish eat small fish"?    

António Bernardo Colaço   

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normetica.blogspot.com

 

 

[joaquim correia]

Eu refiro-me a outros temas, da atualidade nacional ou internacional. O mundo estão tão complicado (direi estranho ou, noutra perspetiva, mais claro perante os interesses das diversas potências) que deves ter análises interessantes a mostrar.

Joaquim

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[Joao Paulo Cota]

Actually many of the sailors that went to India were released criminals. I have checked that on various sources whilst researching on my last book on SFX that is set in the 1500's. 

Yes, some from the interiors, as the seasoned ones refused due to the harsh journey that involved stalling in Guine Bissau waters for upto a month doing nothing, passing via the Cape of Good Hope in deadly weather and overwintering in Mocambique which was boring, before sailing back to India. The ship crew recruitment was not that successful, as people knew the perils of sea travel at the time - so they had no choice but to get the full ship quota needed by releasing prisoners, as ships had to leave at certain fixed dates to avoid monsoons, storms, etc and only sail mostly in good weather to minimise losses. 

It was a very precision operation during the spice trade where nothing could be delayed, as the window of oppurtunity was very tight.

About Angola, it is a shame that Western countries have helped perpetuate the civil war for over 30 years, when Angola could had been a very prosperous nation in that period of time.

When Isabel dos Santos came to London to engage with an architect over some masterplan on these resorts on the posh side of Luanda, only intended for the mega rich, I was appalled by the sheer magnitude of the project. Worse than that, I was shocked at the sheer amount of looting and scamming along with her dad, so that she could become the richest woman in Africa - all in the name of corruption and greed.

As I was a BIM manager in that architectural company, and as an Goan-Angolan myself (I was born there to Goan parents there), I have distanced myself from that scandalous Luanda project and had eventually resigned from that company due to clash of ethics mostly. It looks like the project is now a massive, white elephant, all abandoned today... like many others in the Luanda area and elsewhere.

Nobody should support such corrupt people in power and give them a free reign to loot the country. Angolan people deserve better.

Will be visiting it soon with my two boys to check some of our past history and show them what was life like then.

Joao Paulo Cota

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From: goa-rese...@googlegroups.com <goa-rese...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Edgar Valles <diasv...@gmail.com>
Sent: 08 January 2026 08:06
To: goa-rese...@googlegroups.com <goa-rese...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [GRN] Vasco da Gama

 

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[António Bernardo Colaço]

The discussion has been very inyeresting. At Vasco de Gama´s there were no Pacts, no International Law , no UNO.

We live in the 21st century. Should we allow "big fish to eat small fish" the same way USA did with Venezuela?

António Bernardo Colaço 

[albe...@sapo.pt]

Very well. If today, with the UN and international treaties, there is no respect for the established rules, now imagine the events that occurred in the past during the era of piracy. How much violence and massacres without the presence of TVs.

Trump wants riches just as Gama wanted them in the past.

There is corruption in Portugal, as everyone knows, but the retornados only talk about corruption in Africa out of anger and revenge after their defeat and expulsion.

East Timor also has its bandits, as described by Expresso:

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today that a person "holding a position in the East Timor government" is one of the owners of a hotel that "appears to house businesses" with criminal activity.

https://expresso.pt/internacional/asia/timor_leste/2025-09-11-o-governante-de-timor-leste-que-manda-no-hotel-a-e-as-atividades-ilicitas-descobertas-pela-onu-ha-corrupcao-jogo-ilegal-e-redes-criminosas-ac612cc7

Alberto

----- Mensagem de António Colaço <> ---------

Data: Thu, 8 Jan 2026 16:25:49 +0000

De: António Colaço <>

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[Edgar Valles]

Violence of Portuguese in India was not more intense than violence of Muslims against Hindus or violence of Hindus against Muslims...

When partition took place, in the XX th century, people were burnt alive, as Inquisition did in Goa...And this was in the XX th century, not XVII .

Concerning Timor, corruption that exists is not higher than corruption in India. And they are better than they were under the rule of Indonesians. 

Although there is corruption in Portugal and in Europe, the level of corruption is much lesser than the level that exists in most countries of Asia and of Europe. For example, in Portugal 99,9 % of the judges are honest, they do not accept bribes. In India, according to India Today, 25 % of judges accept bribery...

In Europe, although democracy has many failures, political parties do not buy votes giving money to citizens and politicians do not become millionaires taking advance of exercise of power.  , 

So, there is a difference of level.

Edgar Valles

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