New source-material for the socio-economic history of the Hindus of Goa

The Mhamai brothers were the suppliers of daily commodities / stationery to the viceroys / governors of Goa. Since late 18th century their agency house worked in partnership with several other trading houses all over the west coast of India. They also served as brokers for the French East India company in Goa during the critical period of anglo-french wars. The Mhamais were also revenue farmers, particularly customs and tobacco tax farming. I had the privilege of taking their family archives to the Xavier Centre of Historical Research in 1979 and making the history of the family known worldwide.

“The Voiceless in Goan Historiography”

This essay was presented at the first Seminar on Indo-Portuguese History (ISIPH-I) organized in Goa by Rev. Dr. John Correia-Afonso, S.J. in November 1978. It represented a call for a critical revision of Goan historiography in the post-colonial era, following Goa's liberation and the 25th April 1974 change in Portugal. The essay was a sort of manifesto and definition of research plan for the newly established Xavier Centre of Historical Research. The article surveys critically the documentary sources little tapped until recently. Includes the first ever analysis of the records relating to the Pastoral Visits in Goa, a prized source of information for the socio-economic history of Goa in the 19th century.