Michael Brooks
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southern coast of present-day Karnataka, India. They are descended from the Indo-Aryans who lived on the banks of the Saraswati River. Many Mangalorean Catholics are descendants of Catholics who fled religious persecution in Goa during the Inquisition. They were welcomed by the Alupas in Kanara for their skills in agriculture. While it is difficult to determine the exact percentage, a significant number of Mangalorean Catholics are believed to be descendants of GSBs (Saraswat Brahmins) who converted to Christianity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Caste | Brahmin |
| Ancestral Roots | Indo-Aryans who lived on the banks of the Saraswati River |
| Language | Konkani |
| Location | Mangalore, present-day Karnataka, India |
| Migrations | Three major waves between 1500 and 1700 |
| Reasons for Migration | Maratha invasions, Inquisition, epidemics, religious persecution |
| Number of Captives at Seringapatam | 30,000 to 80,000 |
| Percentage of Captive Christians | 92% |
| Percentage of Goan Origin | 95% |
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What You'll Learn
Mangalorean Catholics are descended from Goan Catholics
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southern coast of present-day Karnataka, India. They are largely descended from the New Christians of Portuguese Goa, who migrated to the Keladi Kingdom from the mid-16th to mid-18th centuries. The Mangalorean Catholic community's history is marked by three major waves of migration from Goa to the Canara subregion, then under the Kingdom of Bednore. The first wave of migrants left Goa due to the Goan Inquisition, which aimed to eradicate all Hindu practices from the lives of native converts. The second wave of migration occurred during the Portuguese-Adil Shahi Wars, and the third during the Portuguese-Maratha Wars.
The Goan Inquisition, introduced by the Portuguese in 1560, played a significant role in the first wave of migration. King Sebastian of Portugal decreed that all traces of Indian customs be eradicated, and Christian converts were banned from using Hindu names, wearing traditional Hindu clothing, or participating in Hindu ceremonies. Those who refused to abandon their Hindu practices were declared heretics and could face death. As a result, many Christians of Goa fled and sought refuge in neighbouring areas, including Mangalore.
The second wave of migration occurred during the Portuguese-Adil Shahi Wars, which took place between 1570 and 1579. This period of conflict and unrest likely contributed to the movement of people from Goa to South Canara. The third wave of migration happened around 1683, coinciding with the Portuguese-Maratha Wars that occurred between 1667 and 1740. The onslaught of Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji who founded the Maratha Empire, drove many Christians from their homes in Goa, causing them to seek safety in South Canara.
The migration of Catholics from Goa to Mangalore resulted in the formation of a unique Mangalorean Catholic community and identity. Over time, they developed their own distinct dialect, which preserved features of ancient dialects while also incorporating influences from the languages they encountered, such as Tulu, Kannada, and Konkani. The community flourished under the rule of Hyder Ali, who left them undisturbed as long as they paid their taxes. However, after his death in 1784, his son Tippu Sultan issued orders to seize the Christians in Mangalore, leading to their captivity and suffering.
According to estimates by genealogist Michael Lobo and historian Alan Machado Prabhu, the present Mangalorean Catholic community is largely descended from a small group of survivors who resettled in South Canara after their captivity ended in 1799. Prabhu estimates that almost 95 per cent of Mangalorean Catholics have origins in Goa, reinforcing the strong historical connection between the two communities.
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The Goan Inquisition caused mass migration to Mangalore
The Goan Inquisition, which began in 1560, was a period of religious persecution aimed at enforcing Catholic orthodoxy and allegiance to the Apostolic See of the Pontifex. It targeted those accused of secretly practising their former religions, such as Jews who had been force-converted to Christianity and Muslims who had invaded the Iberian Peninsula from Morocco. The Inquisition also targeted Hindus, Brahmins, and those suspected of committing sodomy. Led by the Portuguese rulers of Goa, it resulted in the seizure and burning of books written in Sanskrit, Dutch, English, or Konkani, as they were suspected of containing unaligned teachings.
The migrants were mostly from the lower economic strata, having been left out of government and economic jobs due to heavy taxation under Portuguese rule in Goa. As a result of the wealth and privileges they enjoyed in Mangalore, they began to feel superior to their landless relatives in Goa. The captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam from 1784 to 1799 further shaped their identity. Many died, were killed, or were forcibly converted to Sunni Islam during this period. After their release, most resettled in and around South Canara, no longer identifying as Goan Catholics.
The Goan Inquisition, therefore, played a significant role in shaping the unique identity of the Mangalorean Catholic community. While they retained their Indian customs and traditions, they also embraced their new Catholic faith. Over time, they developed a distinct culture, separate from that of the Goans, with their own literature, rituals, and practices.
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Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community
Mangalorean Catholics (Konkani: Kōdiyālcheñ Kathōlikā) are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southern coast of present-day Karnataka, India. They are descended from the Indo-Aryans who lived on the banks of the now-extinct Saraswati River. According to historian Alan Machado Prabhu, the modern Mangalorean Catholic community is mainly descended from two Indo-Aryan groups: those who migrated to the Konkan region and those who migrated to Bengal.
Many Mangalorean Catholics are descendants of Catholics who fled religious persecution during the Goa Inquisition in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were welcomed by the Alupas in Kanara for their skills in agriculture. The mass was celebrated in Latin, but the sermon, catechism, and explication of the mysteries were delivered in Konkani. The parishes were grouped into deaneries called varados, and every parish was divided into wards, with parish councils present in most parishes. About 15% of the households in the parishes were literate.
The migration of the Mangalorean Catholics occurred in three major waves towards South Canara. The first wave of migrants left due to the Goa Inquisition, which made the use of Konknni a punishable offence for converts to Western Christianity. The second wave occurred during the Portuguese-Adil Shahi Wars between 1570 and 1579, and the third wave took place during the Portuguese-Maratha Wars between 1667-83 and 1737-40. Other factors contributing to the mass migrations included disease epidemics, famines, natural calamities, overpopulation, poor living conditions, heavy tax burdens, and social discrimination by the Portuguese.
The captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam from 1784 to 1799 is a significant event in their history. They were seized by Tippu Sultan, who confiscated their estates and deported them to Seringapatam. This experience led to the formation of a separate and common cultural identity among the group, and they no longer self-identified as Goan Catholics.
In terms of caste, there is diversity within the community. While some Mangalorean Catholics are descendants of Roman Catholic Brahmins, others trace their origins to various groups such as the Mogaveeras, Billavas, and other OBC and SC communities. Intermarriages with non-Mangaloreans have also contributed to a decline in the preservation of certain aspects of Mangalorean Catholic culture, such as cuisine.
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The community has a unique identity and culture
The Gaud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB), also known as Goud, Gawd, or Shenvis, are a Hindu Brahmin community with a unique identity and culture. While their caste status and identity are contested, with some rejecting their Brahmin claim, the GSBs have a distinct heritage and way of life. They primarily speak Konkani and its dialects and have a rich tradition of cultural and religious practices, playing a significant role in the socio-religious and cultural landscape of the regions they inhabit.
GSBs have a unique cultural identity shaped by their historical experiences and migration patterns. Their history is deeply intertwined with the region of Goa and its religious developments, particularly the introduction of Christianity by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. The mass migration of GSBs from Goa to neighbouring regions, including Mangalore, during this period was a defining moment in the formation of their distinct identity. The migration was a response to religious persecution during the Goa Inquisition, which aimed to eradicate all Hindu practices from the lives of Christian converts. The GSBs' attachment to their ancient Hindu customs and their resistance to complete abandonment of these traditions set them apart and led to their migration.
The community has its own traditional dishes and culinary practices that are integral to their cultural identity. They are known for their predominantly vegetarian cuisine, which has evolved over time and influenced the local cuisine in the regions they settled, such as Mangalore. However, intermarriages with non-Mangaloreans have also led to a decline in the preservation of their unique culinary traditions.
GSBs have a long history of involvement in various cultural activities and religious ceremonies, which remain integral to their identity. They actively participate in and organise religious festivals, community events, and cultural forums. They have built and maintained temples in their settled regions and played a vital role in preserving and passing down ancient Hindu texts and rituals, ensuring the continuity of Hindu practices. Their cultural affinity and heritage are celebrated through events like the Culture Night Fair, where they share and honour their diverse traditions.
Education and scholarship are also essential aspects of the GSB community's identity. They have a strong association with knowledge and have historically contributed to fields such as literature, philosophy, arts, and sciences. The GSBs have a hierarchical social structure, and their primary purpose is to achieve spiritual grace and mercy by reducing doshas and runas. This spiritual focus further shapes their unique identity and sets them apart from other communities.
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Roman Catholic Brahmins are a Christianised caste
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, on the southern coast of present-day Karnataka, India. They are descendants of the New Christians of Portuguese Goa, who migrated to the Keladi Kingdom between 1560 and 1763, during the Goa Inquisition, the Portuguese-Adil Shahi Wars, and the Mahratta Invasions of Goa and Bombay. They learned Tulu and Kanarese in Canara but retained their Konkani language and way of life, which had undergone Christianisation in Goa.
The history of the Mangalorean Catholics is closely tied to the Christianisation of Goa by the Portuguese. The Goa Inquisition, introduced by the Portuguese in 1560, aimed to eradicate all culturally Hindu practices from the lives of native converts. This led to a wave of migration as many Goans fled to escape religious persecution. The migrants were mostly from the lower economic strata, having been left out of government and economic jobs, and their lands confiscated due to heavy taxation under Portuguese rule. They were skilled farmers and were welcomed by the Alupas in Kanara.
Roman Catholic Brahmin, or Christian Brahmin, is a Christianised caste among the Goan, Bombay East Indian, and Mangalorean Catholics. They are patrilineal descendants of Brahmin and Prabhu converts to the Latin Church. This occurred in parts of the Konkan region that were annexed into the Portuguese East Indies. They retain some ethno-social values and customs of their ancestors and exhibit a hybrid Latino-Concanic culture.
The Christian Brahmins were allowed to wear the Yajnopavita (sacred threads) and other caste markings by a special dispensation of Pope Gregory XV in 1623, on the condition that these were blessed by a Catholic priest. They consider their caste to be a form of social stratification, similar to the Western class concept, and they have generally refrained from intermarriage with Catholic Christians of other castes. However, while they did not intermarry with the lower castes, they were restrained by the Roman Catholic Church from practising Hindu caste-based discrimination.
The Charodis, or Roman Catholic Kshatriyas, form one of the largest groups within the Mangalorean Catholic community. They took up service in the army of the Keladi Nayakas and received large tracts of land in recognition of their service. During the Indian independence struggle, they were perceived by Indian nationalists as sympathetic to nationalist leanings and less likely to be pro-European loyalists than Bamonns.
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Frequently asked questions
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southern coast of present-day Karnataka, India.
The history of the Mangalorean Catholics begins with the legacy of Lusitanian culture or the Christianisation in Portuguese Goa and Bombay. This was followed by the migration of the New Christians of Portuguese Goa to the Canara subregion under the Kingdom of Bednore from the mid-16th to mid-18th centuries.
Almost all Mangalorean Catholics are descendants of ethnic Goan Catholics. Alan Machado Prabhu estimates that nearly 95 per cent of Mangalorean Catholics have origins in Goa.
GSB stands for Gowda Saraswath Brahmin. They are a sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins, who are primarily found in the Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
It is unclear what percentage of Mangalorean Catholics are GSBs. However, it is known that many Mangalorean Catholics are descendants of Catholics who fled the Inquisition in Goa.
