SANJEEV V SARDESAI
Over the centuries, Goa has set many benchmarks for effective implementation of facilities and conveniences in the field of medical services – a unique blend of Indo-European architecture and besides many others, specifically in printing and documentation.
The time tested ancient Indian model of conveying the highly complex and prized Vedas, Upanishads and ritual perfection from a guru (teacher) to his ‘shishya’ (student) has been through aural recitation and repetition, maintaining all the criteria for perfecting the same. It is not that documentation did not exist in this region we now know as Goa. It is pertinent to note that documentation did exist though in a raw format.
As centuries progressed and dynasties accepted new modes to record events and gifts, we get to see the granite carved grants in the Goa State Museum, now temporarily established at the Adil Shah Palace or the Old Secretariat. We can see many such ‘carved grants’ with scripts carved on granite slabs in Hallekannad in Kannada script or part Marathi and Sanskrit in Devnagri scripts which gifted many lands with a condition to carry out certain annual obligations’ towards temples or communities. Many of us would be shocked to see a very erotic, yet an unimaginable graphic, carved at the base of the ‘grant’. This is called as ‘gaddhyagal’. This ‘shocking’ graphic may be interpreted as a ‘curse’ of not obeying and carrying out the required obligations.
We can also see many similar script carvings on granite all over Goa in the Brahmi script which was amongst the first scripts found in the Konkan region. We see this script on the ‘Ubho Guno’ found at Pariem, Sattari; as well as on the base of the ‘Ling’ (the Hindu phallic religious icon) in the South facing cave of the Arvalem cave Complex which is dated between the sixth to the seventh century AD.
The Petroglyphs or ‘rock carvings’ found at Ponsaimol and Kazur in Sanguem and Mauxi Village in Sattari, near Valpoi were a graphic documentation of observations by possible hunting tribes that once existed and settled in these regions. These priceless petroglyphs are surmised to be from the period 10,000 to 8,500 BC, but sadly the government authorities entrusted with their upkeep and protection are displaying total lethargy and a lackadaisical attitude towards preservation of the same though some of these are ‘Protected Monuments’ under respective laws.
This ancient methodology of documentation saw a wonderful sunrise in the form of the present-day documentation when the first printing press was established in Portuguese Goa, first at St Paul College at old Goa and later operated from the Rachol seminary. It is said that this Printing Press was loaded on a shop coming from Portugal/Mediterranean route, through the Suez Canal, destined to go to Ethiopia. However, on reaching the port, the priests were informed that there was a war raging in the route of travel and it would be unhealthy to proceed. Hence, the press machine remained on board and reached the port of Old Goa. On coming to know about the printing machine, the local Paulistas, who were operating a school for the local children, impressed upon the priests in charge of the printing machine to allow the user to their educational institution. This wish was granted and Portuguese Goa was blessed with the first Printing Press to be established in 1556 AD. Many publications, though small ones, are credited to this press. A model of a similar Printing Press established at St Paul’s College, can be seen in the Goa State Museum at Panaji.
However, the formal establishment of the ‘Publica Livraria’ or the ‘Public Library’ in Portuguese Goa happened in 1832 AD. It was earlier commonly known as ‘Central Library’ and operated from the north-west wing of the Collectorate Building in Panaji till 2012 when this institution was renamed as ‘Krishnadas Shama Central Library’, and shifted to its prestigious new huge edifice at EDC Complex, Patto at Panaji.
It was thought apt to name this institution after ‘Krishnadas Shama’ a Goud Saraswat resident of Quellossim, near Cortalim, on way to Loutolim, because his writings in Marathi script may be considered as the first prose work by a Goan. His writings and manuscripts, the rendering of the 10th Adhyay of the Bhagwad Purana were found in a public library in Braga, Portugal. He may also be the author of the Konkani scripts found in the same library.
We can understand the importance of libraries through the writings of Maria Pia de Menezes Rodrigues, the former curator of State Central Library, Panaji, who writes in her book ‘Texts, Tomes, Treasures – the evolution of Goa’s Publica Livrarias’ (1832 – 2005, “Libraries in India date back to the Indus Valley Civilisation which flourished around the Bronze Age (3300-1300 BCE) in the basins of that major Asian River, the Indus River, and the Ghagger-Hakra River, which is now often identified with the Vedic Saraswati River.” This shows the importance of a literary collective of books in society.
She further writes that as per a study conducted “about 27 state libraries were set up in 67 years, of which one of the earliest libraries in India, was set up by the French colonizers, at Pondicherry (now Puducherry) in 1827; while the next to be established was at Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) in 1829.” However, since these libraries were not opened to the public, they could not be considered as ‘Public Libraries’.
In Goa, we have many major yet privately managed libraries but the honour of the oldest public library in India goes to the ‘Publica Livraria’, now known as the ‘Goa State Central Library’ established during the rule of Viceroy Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro (1827-1835) on 15th September 1832 during the Portuguese rule. The viceroy is also credited with aesthetically developing the marshy Campal area and which was later given his identity – ‘Campo Manuel’ or Campal; and which today is the pride of Panaji city. Initially, this library was attached and functioned from the annexe of the ‘Academia Militar’ (Military Institution). In the year 1836, the name of this library was baptised to ‘Bibliotheca Publica de Nova Goa’.
After Liberation, with much attention bestowed to set up a democratic government in the newly liberated Goa, Daman and Diu from the Portuguese colonisers, the Public Library of Goa did not find much attention. However, around 1964-65, a grant was received to set up 53 public libraries, which were run under private entrepreneurship. Today there may be over one lakh books, covering various topics for young and old readers in its various sections.
One of the biggest literary treasures that we find in the heart of the Goan capital city is the ‘Krishnadas Shama Central Library’. It has one of the finest collections of books, in a state-of-art, five-storeyed building and catering to every literary need of a dedicated individual in search of knowledge. There are dedicated sections for the casual news readers perusing the dailies, while a huge and beautiful section attracts children. The ‘rare books’ section on the fourth and fifth floor has very dedicated staff who go the entire length to feed everyone with the books as per their needs. Many of the academic and casual researchers are found to peruse the ageing pages of this anthology regularly.
The journey of documentation that began at the beginning of the millennia finds rest at the Krishnadas Shama Central Library. If ever one wants to explore Goa and get bewitched with its heritage glitter, then a visit to the Krishnadas Shama Central Library is a must!
