Goan Nostalgia

RESEARCH ON GOA


Some Areas of Research
In order to motivate scholars to undertake research in Goa, we list here some interesting areas available.

Legal Research
Family Laws of Goa - The family laws of Goa are based on the Portuguese laws which were not repealed after the Liberation of Goa. They are of historical interest on one side as well as practical value as they can be useful for India, in case it wants to enact a model Family Law.

For an effective research, the scholar should be able to comprehend Portuguese as well as English, and must have an idea of the Civil Law System as well as Continental Law System. If the researcher decides to carry a project, he will have to collect data by finding the present position of Family Law through interviews. Interviews can be carried with officials, lawyers, judges, public prosecutors and litigants. The de facto position of law is very interesting, as it is a blending of law envisaged for the Continental System and worked in a Common Law System.

Hindu Law from Portuguese Records -There are various Portuguese records available in Goa which touch on the various aspects of Hindu Law, then prevailing in Goa. In particular, there is the enacted Code for the Hindus of 1853 and 1880. These records, if properly used, can be very useful in complementing the present knowledge of Hindu Legal System as it existed in India.
The scholar has to have sound backgrounds of the principles and concepts of Hindu Law as well as a good command of Portuguese and English.

Transition from Civil Law to Common Law System - Goa experienced Civil Law System during the Portuguese regime and had to switch to Common Law System in the post- Liberation period. Hence the transition carries a valuable experience, which can give better insights into the dynamics of the two systems. In Goa, we still possess judges and lawyers who have worked in both systems and their information may be valuable for any comparative study. The oral experience is surely bound to be lost in a short time.

A research scholar in this field must have adequate knowledge of the two systems and the differences between them. It is an advantage if the scholar knows Portuguese as well as English, in order to read the material during the transition period. The documentary study can be supplemented with the help of interviews of lawyers, judges and litigants, who have experience in both systems.

Such a study can be very useful today as the two systems are coming closer in view of globalization.

Human Rights and Goa – It is possible to study of dynamic evolution of Human Rights in Goa from the sixteenth century to the present day. There is sufficient documentary and other literature available on the subject. It is also possible to conduct field research on the present day problems and issues concerning Human Rights in the society in Goa. There are quite a number of NGOs working on various dimensions of Human Rights in Goa which can also figure in the study.

Legal History of Goa (1961-2005) - This is an interesting but rather vast topic calling for an arduous work. Plenty of information is available in the various Government Bulletins published regularly, which can be supported too by other primary and secondary sources.

The project requires the scholar to go through Bulletins published in Goa during the post liberation period.

Goa Legislative Assembly –It is interesting to conduct a research on the Goa Legislative Assembly. The researcher can look into the documentary part as well as in the dynamics of the institution. The records are easily available, due to computerization and the fact that the Assembly is developing an excellent library. The researcher can use various socio-metric techniques to evaluate the various functions of the Assembly.

Defections and Defection Law – This is an interesting area by which the defections and defection law and its impact can be studied with respect to cases from Goa.

Other Research Areas on Goa
Goa – Myths and Mythology
There are mythological legends about Goa such as Parashuram’s reclamation of Goa from the sea, Parashuram’s Ashvamedha sacrifice at Harmal, Lord Shiva’s association with Cortalim, Lord Krishna’s sojourn at Dhudsagar, association of Pandavas with Margao and so on. All these stories need to be retold in the original version.


Pre-Liberation Portuguese Literature
In pre-liberation days many writers and poets in Goa wrote in Portuguese language with the facility of a mother tongue. However in their expressions, descriptions etc, they have left consciously or unconsciously a lot of local touch. For instance poets like Nascimento Mendonca, Adeodato Barreto have used a lot of Indian imagery in their poems. This can be an excellent project for any research scholar, who is well versed in Portuguese language and acquainted with the Indian culture.

Goan Literature
Goan Literature in English, Portuguese , Konkani or Marathi etc. is a rich source for research.