Pre-Portuguese History of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu

-An article by Poojan Patel

Following India’s independence, while Britain and France made a complete withdrawal from the country, Portugal adamantly clung to its territories. Despite diplomatic attempts to convey the need for their departure, Portugal remained unmoved, seemingly blinded by the belief that India would refrain from using force to evict them, even amidst clear indications to the contrary.

Civil resistance against the oppressive Portuguese regime began in the early 20th century, aligning with the broader freedom movement. Despite post-1947 diplomatic efforts by the Indian government to persuade Portugal, the Iberians showed a stubborn resistance, impervious to the diplomatic overtures.

This led to the iconic Operation Vijay. Notably, there have been three instances of Operation Vijay in Indian military history:

1. The first involved the recapture of Jhanjar by Brigadier Usman in 1948.
2. The second marked the Liberation of Goa, Daman, and Diu in 1961.
3. The third, widely known, occurred during the Kargil operations in 1999.

Before these invasions by Indian forces, these regions belonged to Portuguese India. It is essential to delve into the pre-invasion history to understand the context.

Pre-Portuguese History Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu

Dadra and Nagar Haveli:

The Marathas’ strategic alliance with the Portuguese, documented in the 1779 treaty, set the stage for the later inclusion of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in Portuguese India. The article explores the socio-political dynamics, including the exploitation of tribal populations and the eventual liberation in 1954, merging with Daman and Diu in 2020. The Portuguese occupied Dadra and Nagar Haveli from 1783 to 1785, ruled until its liberation in 1954. The regime was marked by corruption, exploitation of the local Tribal Population, and indifference to welfare. After liberation, the administration was carried out by an Administrator and the creation of Varistha Panchayat and Group Panchayat. In 1961, the Varistha Panchayat passed a resolution for integration with the Indian Union, leading to the formation of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Union Territory.

Daman:

All the Gujaratis love visiting Daman for reasons known only to them. But do we know the rich history of the place that we love to visit so often? Daman, once known as Kalana Pavri, has a history deeply embedded in the Mauryan Empire and subsequent rule by various dynasties. The narrative unfolds the events that led to Portuguese acquisition in 1559, exploring the impact of colonial rule and the eventual liberation in 1961. Daman, a district in the Lata region, was part of the Mauryan empire from the 2nd Century B.C. to the 13th Century A.D. The region was under the rule of Satkarni I, the Satavahana ruler, and the Kshaharatas, provincial governors under the Kushana emperors. However, the Satavahana rule was shortlived, and the Kshaharatas of Ujjain re-conquered the district around A.D. 150. The Abhir Kings ruled the district until A.D. 416. The district was then under the Traikutakas, who were feudatories of the Abhiras. By A.D. 500, the Traikutaka power was destroyed by the Vakataka king Harishena. The Kalachuris of Mahishmati King Krishnaraja and his successors ruled the district until A.D. 609. The Chalukyas of Badami ruled the district until A.D. 671, and their descendants, known as Lata or Navasari Chalukyas, ruled independently as feudatories of the Badami Chalukyas of the Deccan.

In the next eight centuries, Daman came under the control of various Hindu kings and chieftains. Mahmud Shah Begada, Sultan of Gujarat, conquered fort Parnera on the river Par and the port of Daman, levied tribute from Jagatshah in 1465. Naranshah, who succeeded Jagatshah, ruled from A.D. 1470 to 1500 and Dharmshah II from 1500 to 1531.

Daman was acquired by the Portuguese from the Shah of Gujarat in 1559, who attacked the port multiple times before obtaining it in 1559 through a treaty with the Shah. The district was under Portuguese rule until its liberation in 1961.

Diu:

Diu’s documented history dates back to the Maurya rule, and the article follows its journey through Indo-Greek kings, Muslim Sultans of Gujarat, and the eventual Portuguese conquest in 1546. The strategic importance of Diu is underscored by the Battle of Diu in 1509, and the paper delves into its decline and liberation in 1961. Diu, a district in India, has a rich history dating back to the Maurya rule (c.322-220 B.C.). Emperor Chandragupta Maurya extended his supremacy over Saurashtra, and appointed Pushagupta as Governor of the province. Yavanaraj Tushappa ruled over Saurashtra as Governor of Emperor Ashoka (c.273-237 B.C.), sending Yavana Thero named Dhammarakhito as an evangelist to the western seaboard, including Diu. His grandson Samprati ruled over Saurashtra from Ujjain, propagating Jainism and erected many Jain Temples.

The district was under the rule of Indo-Greek kings Eukratides (c.171-150 B.C.), Meanandar (c.115 to 90 B.C.), and Appollodotes II of the 1st Century B.C. No historical information is available for the period from the 1st Century B.C. to about A.D. 50. Over the next thousand years, Diu formed part of the kingdoms of dynasties that ruled over western India, including Gujarat.

In the first decade of the fifteenth century, the last king of the Vaja dynasty, ruler of Somnath Patan, ruled over Diu. After the Mughal invasion, the Gujarat Sultan Bahadur Shah’s kingdom was overwhelmed by the Mughal invasion. Bahadur Shah entered into a treaty with Nuno da Cunha on October 25, 1535, who agreed to assist Bahadur Shah against his enemy by land and sea. After the Mughal danger receded, the Shah of Gujarat realized his mistake in allowing the Portuguese to construct a fortress at Diu.

Diu was conquered by the Portuguese in 1546 and became a part of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu under the Government of India. After Statehood of Goa on 30th May 1987, Daman and Diu became a separate U.T.

Diu was an important port of trade routes in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. Due to its strategic importance, Diu was fortified to withstand later attacks by the Arabs of Muscat and the Dutch in the late 17th century. The island was liberated under Operation Vijay in 1961, and Goa separated as a state in 1987, becoming a part of the Union Territory of Daman and Diu.

Operation Vijay, executed in three instances, becomes a symbol of India’s commitment to securing its sovereignty. The liberation of Daman, Diu, and Goa represents a triumph of historical forces, diplomacy, and the indomitable spirit of the people. As these territories evolved from colonial subjects to integral parts of the Indian Union, their history serves as a testament to the nation’s commitment to freedom, justice, and sovereignty.