The delegation has demanded that the Goa Government should recognize the historical revolt by proper documentation ; that a documentary be produced on the subject. The delegation has also demanded that a lesson be introduced in the school text books of appropriate class, on the historical events and that the Government of India be approached for the recognition of the historical revolt and also for its documentation. The memorandum states that the first war against the western imperialism in India was fought in Cuncolim, and its four sisters villages, across Sall River in South Goa against the Portuguese in the 16th century.
Much before the 1857 War of Independence against the British, the brave villagers known as Gaunkars of the five villages of Assolnam, Ambelim, Velim, Veroda, Cuncolim, (AVC) fought for over five decades to defend their 'Gaukari' (gram swaraj) and to protect their places of worship (faith), the memorandum states. The memorandum further states that the war for 'Swaraj' and 'Swadharam' (freedom and faith)' was led, not by Rajas and Nawabs, but by the elders (budavont), Chieftains of villages even when their ruler Adil Shah had surrendered to the Portuguese. The Portuguese captured Goa City on Nov. 25, 1510 and moved into Bardez and Salcete Talukas in 1542 after they were given to them by Raja of Vijayanagar after defeating Ibrahim Adil Shah.
Prof.Verossimo Coutinho, President of Cuncolim Chieftons Memorial Trust handing over memorandum to Chief Minister Shri Digambar Kamat. Also seen in the photograph are Shri Shantaram Naik M.P., Shri Flaviano Dias, Shri Altinho Gomes, Shri Inecio Almeida Coutinho, Shri Oscar Martins, Shri Ramesh Desai, and Shri Shripad Desai and Shri Shaba Desai.
Refusing to accept the Portuguese rule, the Gaunkars declined to pay tributes and taxes to the occupying forces, Memorandum says. Memorandum also says that it is interesting to note that this prolonged 'no tax campaign' by the Gaunkars of the five villages, was three and half centuries before Mahatma Gandhi launched his 'no tax campaign' against the British Government in the 20th century. The memorandum states that 16 leaders invited for talks with promise of safe return were: Colgo Naik alias Kalu, Moluco Naik alias Molu, Aga Khan alias Wagu, Santu Chantim alias Santu, Ramgaro alias Rama, Khampru Naik, Shabu Naik, Topi Naik, Jhang Naik, Polputtu Naik, Bozro Naik, Shanta Sheth, Vithoba Naik, Yesu Naik, Guno Naik and Jivlo Naik. They were locked in the Assolnam Fort and killed. Two of them escaped by jumping into Sall River to Betul and from there to Adil Shah's territory.
The five villages that participated in the war were also punished by confiscating their lands, fields and with them their Gaunkari (Comunidades), memorandum states. In 1999, sons of Gaunkars, both Hindus and Catholics, formed the Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Committee under the chairperson of Dr. (Prof.) Verissimo Countinho, who was president of the Goan Students Association during Goa's freedom struggle and a memorial to the 16 Chieftains, who became the first martyrs in India's freedom struggle, was raised at Cuncolim by their descendents, Hindus and Catholics, memorandum says.
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