Written by Tanisha Cardozo
The villages of Assolna, Velim, and Cuncolim, famously known as AVC, have a long history of courage. Before the Portuguese ever arrived in Goa, the gauncars of these villages served as respected warriors in Adil Shah’s army. But when the Portuguese began their campaign of conquest and religious conversion, AVC became a stronghold of resistance.
Unlike other parts of Salcette that gave in, the people of AVC refused to surrender. They rebuilt temples after they were destroyed, held rituals in secret, and stood united against outside control. Meetings were held at a central spot in Cuncolim called the mand, where leaders planned their defense.
It was the people of AVC who led ‘A People’s War of Independence’ or an armed action, between the period from 1559 to 1583 and a struggle of non-cooperation with the Portuguese and the church. Continuous struggles were launched to stop the Portuguese attempts to break temples. Unfortunately, this struggle took a very ugly turn on15th July 1583.
Fearing another attack on their temples, villagers rose up and killed five Jesuit priests. This fight resulted in the death of five missionaries, Rodolfo Aquaviva, Afonso Pacheco, António Francisco from Coimbra, Pedro Berno and Francisco Aranha. Three lay people also died with them, namely Alphonso da Costa, Francisco Rodriguez and Domingos Aguiar.
The Portuguese responded with a brutal betrayal, calling the local chieftains for peace talks, only to kill them. The monument inaugurated in November 1999 at the site of the revolt in Tolleiband, Cuncolim mentions the name of 16 tribal chieftains: Jay Naik, Bozno Naik, Emu Naik, Vithoba Naik, Jivlo Naik, Guno Naik, Shabu Naik,Calgo Naik, Polputo Naik, Topi Naik and Shanta Shet among others. Their lands were confiscated, and their bodies never properly buried.
These three villages are not only geographically and historically linked together but are also socio-culturally bound together. It is difficult to write about one village without entering into the socio-cultural history of the other sister villages. A feeling of oneness and a spirit of brotherhood is evident among the people of these villages till today, irrespective of their religion.
Fun Facts:
- Many locals still use both their ancestral and Portuguese surnames — like Sawant Mendes!
- Village wards still go by names like Naik Vaddo, Porobos Vaddo, and Milleia Vaddo — unchanged for centuries.
- Forget courts — disputes were settled by the dhazaan, a council of ten elders. The most serious punishment? Getting kicked out of the village!
- Wards had confres — community loan funds with no interest or collateral. Portuguese officials hated them.
- Catholic weddings still include the Ross and Bicareachea jevonn. During the Mell and Sotrios, Catholics and Hindus celebrate side by side — carrying umbrellas, lighting lamps, throwing kumkum and rose petals, even worshipping the idol of Shanta Durga together. A Hindu priest still collects coconuts from Catholic homes in Cuncolim!
- During both World Wars, the church bells in AVC never stopped — families lost sons, but never their cultural roots. Their pride and traditions still echo through these villages today.
As you enter Cuncolim, a sign reads, “Welcome to Cuncolim, the land of freedom fighters.” The spirit of resistance still lives on. On 27th November 1999, this pride was honoured with the erection of the Chieftains’ Memorial at the site of the 1583 Cuncolim massacre. The revolt led by 16 Chieftains is considered one of India’s earliest uprisings against foreign rule. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant was praised for including this historic revolt in Class IX and XI textbooks.
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