Panaji, March 16 (IANS) Goa's port town of Vasco da Gama, named after the 15th century Portuguese explorer, was once briefly called Sambhaji Nagar, according to Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar who has now called for indigenisation of the names of places with a foreign legacy.
Arlekar said the initial proposal to rename Vasco had been derailed due to "political pressure" and that the global trend of re-christening of places after names of local icons should be practiced in Goa too.
He was speaking to a select group of journalists on the sidelines of a press conference on the 358th birth anniversary celebrations of Sambhaji, the warrior son of Maratha king Shivaji.
"We should not have names (after) foreigners. We should have our own names. This is a worldwide trend," Arlekar said when asked whether the port town should be named after foreigners who came to India for trade and ended up as rulers.
Arlekar also reminisced about the days, when for a brief period during the regime of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), soon after the liberation of Goa in 1961 from over 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule, the town of Vasco located 35 kms from Panaji, was known as Sambhaji Nagar.
"The Vasco railway station was called Sambhaji Nagar. While entering Vasco there was a plaque which said Sambhaji Nagar and the Mormugao municipality signage also said Sambhaji Nagar.
"Railway tickets also had Sambhaji Nagar printed on them. All this was there, but the issue lagged behind due to political pressure," said Arlekar, who is himself a long-time dweller of the port town and was once elected MLA from the Vasco constituency.
While Vasco da Gama has been credited with discovering a new sea route to India in 1498, when he landed in Calicut, Sambhaji is a Maratha hero with several ballads eulogising his fight against Muslim rulers of the Deccan region and Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb.
Arlekar also claimed that while it is not known if Sambhaji ever visited Vasco during his time, there was enough evidence to suggest that he did arrive in Goa.
"I don't know, but his presence was in Goa," Arlekar said.
Sambhaji had also marched into Portuguese-held Goa in the late 1600s to fight the Luso colonials, but could not see the campaign to fruition.
Goa has seen several spats, in the last decade and more, over renaming of roads, cities and landmarks which are named after Portuguese icons of the colonial age or in the Portuguese language.
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel, know how much are the prices in your city today
Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today companies have not made any change in oil prices. On Saturday, the government announced to reduce the prices of petrol and
Jobless Rate: The unemployment rate increased in India, increased to 7.83 percent in April, Haryana tops
On the one hand, while the economy in the country is recovering rapidly and the country's GST collection is reaching new heights, on the other hand, the problem of unemployment in the country is
Corona In Gurugram - Record 1919 infected in one day found in the district
Gurugram On the one hand, records of corona infects coming in a day are being broken. A day earlier, where the highest number of 1434 new patients had come, on the same day, on Friday, the maximum
Coronavirus: The world is looking towards India for the vaccine, know the reason
new Delhi. Coronavirus has killed more than 2 lakh people so far. About 3 million people are infected with the Covid-19 virus. All the countries of the world are engaged in making vaccines or
Iran: Police Unit Enforcing Islamic Dress Code Disbanded, Is Something Big Happening Behind Closed Doors?
The ongoing protests against the hijab in Iran have now reached an important stage. It is reported that in Iran it has been decided to dissolve the units of the 'Moral Police'.
Team India made 4 records in the first T20: Highest score against Australia, Hardik Pandya played the best innings of their T20 career
The first match of the T20 series between India and Australia was played in Mohali. Despite the defeat, Team India made four records in this match. Hardik Pandya played the best innings of his T20
PM Shimla Visit: To take a sketch of their mother, PM Modi suddenly stopped the car, and asked this question to the female painter
A woman painter presented a sketch of his mother to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Shimla on Tuesday to celebrate the completion of eight years of his government. When the PM was
PM Modi: 'Congress' loot during life, even after life...', PM Modi said in Chhattisgarh - He does not want you to give your property to children.
PM Modi addressed a public meeting in Surguja, Chhattisgarh today. PM Modi mentioned inheritance tax while targeting Congress.
Should India end all trade relations with China
New Delhi: In a violent clash with Chinese soldiers in Galvan Valley, 20 Indian soldiers have been martyred. There have been many casualties in China, but China is not releasing the figures. After
Atiq Ahmed: Police took the shooters of Mafia Atiq and Ashraf from Pratapgarh Jail to Prayagraj
Atiq Ahmed Shooters Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny Singh, and Arun Maurya, the three shooters accused of murdering mafia Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, were taken to Prayagraj under tight security for