INTRODUCTION

Portuguese India was a colonial state within the Indian Subcontinent from 1505 to 1961. The Portuguese established trading posts and forts along the Indian coastline, with a significant presence in Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Their influence was limited to their colonies, unlike the English who expanded their control over larger parts of India. In 1961, the Indian government annexed the Portuguese territories, marking the end of Portuguese rule in India. These territories were integrated into the newly independent Indian state.

ARRIVAL AND CONSOLIDATION OF PORTUGUESE POWER IN INDIA

Following factors were responsible for arrival and consolidation of Portuguese power in India: 

• Early Trade Attempts: Portugal and Spain were pioneering European nations in exploring and establishing trade routes to India, with their merchants and navigators playing a vital role supported by their respective governments during the Age of Discoveries.
• Columbus and Vasco da Gama: In 1494, Christopher Columbus’s voyage intended to find a trade route to India led to the discovery of America, while Vasco da Gama’s successful exploration in 1498 established an all-sea route connecting Europe and India.
• Portuguese Arrival in India: The Portuguese, being the first Europeans to directly enter India, sought to initiate a trade with the country. Vasco da Gama’s arrival in Calicut after a journey around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope marked a significant milestone. The goods he brought back from India resulted in a remarkable profit, estimated to be 60 times their original cost.

• Success in Lisbon’s Perspective: Despite challenges and controversies, the Portuguese government viewed the expedition as a success due to the discovery of a sea route that circumvented the Ottoman Empire. This achievement brought substantial profits, exceeding the initial investment and paving the way for future European trade with India and the East.
• Goa and Consolidation of Power: Goa, a significant Portuguese colony in India, was seized from the monarch of Bijapur in 1510 during the viceroyalty of Alfonso de Albuquerque. After the capture of Goa, the Portuguese steadily expanded their dominance along the Asian coast, encompassing regions from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca, including the prized Indonesian Spice Islands.
• Portuguese Trade and Commodities: The Portuguese gained a reputation for trading in valuable commodities like calico, ebony, pearls, spices, pharmaceuticals, porcelain, silk, and gold, leveraging their regional dominance to establish profitable trade networks.

EXPEDITIONS OF PORTUGUESE AND CONFLICTS 

• Establishment of Cochin: Vasco da Gama’s expeditions and conflicts with the Zamorin Kingdom resulted in the establishment of a Portuguese base on the Malabar coast of India. Francisco de Almeida, the first viceroy, chose modern-day Cochin as the location for his headquarters.
• Conflict with the Zamorin and Treaty: In 1509, Alfonso de Albuquerque led a Portuguese fleet to Calicut to destroy the Zamorin, but faced resistance and had to retreat. However, Albuquerque later signed a treaty with the Zamorin in 1513 to safeguard Portuguese interests in the Malabar region.
• Establishment of Goa: With the assistance of the Vijayanagar Empire, Alfonso de Albuquerque successfully defeated the Bijapur Sultanate in 1510, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Goa. Subsequently, Goa became the headquarters of Portuguese colonial possessions in India and the seat of the viceroy.
• Mumbai and British Control: Mumbai was under Portuguese possessions until it was transferred to the British in 1661. Similarly, the British occupied Goa from 1799 to 1813, bringing an end to the remnants of the Inquisition during their brief rule.
• Shifting Capital and Restricted Control: In 1843, the capital of Portuguese India was shifted to Panjim, which was renamed Nova Goa and served as the administrative seat. Portuguese control remained primarily confined to Goa, as well as the enclaves of Diu and Daman, for the next century.

THE DECLINE OF PORTUGUESE IN INDIA

Portuguese India, spanning from 1505 to 1961, left a significant impact on the Indian Subcontinent. However following were major factors responsible for decline of Portuguese power in India:

• Seizure of Colonial Outposts: In 1954, the United Front of Goans seized Daman, and Nagar Haveli was captured by Azad Gomantak Dal, challenging Portuguese control. The International Court of Justice ruling granting access to Portuguese territories in India had little effect.
• Suppression of Protests and Refusal to Hand Over: Local protests against Portuguese rule in Goa were violently suppressed by the Portuguese government, led by Dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. Despite repeated requests, the Portuguese government refused to hand over the colonial holdings, considering them an integral part of Portuguese territory.
• Indian Government’s Approach: From 1951 to 1961, the Indian government adopted a “wait and watch” strategy, raising the issue of decolonization internationally while imposing an economic embargo.
• Recognition of Indian Sovereignty and Improved Relations: Salazar’s government refused to recognize India’s sovereignty until the 1970s, but after its fall, the relationship between India and Portugal improved, leading to an amicable rapport between the two nations.