East Meets West

The book discusses the nature of interaction between the coloniser and the colonised, focusing on the Portuguese colonization of Goa, India. The colonial discourse led to the reaction by the colonized, in the form of counter discourse. The local elites attempted to resist colonial rule by constructing the local history, which was ignored by the colonial masters. This trend is also seen in the field of science where the local elites attempted to glorify the scientific achievements of the ancient Indians. The Goan leaders accepted Goa’s historical and cultural relationship with India. This is seen in the case of both Hindu and Catholic leaders. Interestingly, the Catholic nationalist leaders who resisted colonialism, took pride in Hindu history, as they were Hindus before their conversion. The Portuguese attempted to obtain the support of the Brahmanas to obtain legitimacy for their rule. The book also discusses the condition of the working-class colonized people, including artisans, who were also subjugated by colonial rule. The work also traces the different phases of Portuguese colonialism in Goa; pre-Pombaline; Pombaline; and post-Pombaline. It shows that Portuguese colonialism comprises various stages of growth in Goa.