Tiswadi

Tiswadi
(Portuguese: Ilhas de Goa, lit.'Islands of Goa')
Location of Tiswadi in North Goa, Goa
Location of Tiswadi in North Goa, Goa
Coordinates: 15°29′55″N 73°49′46″E / 15.498598°N 73.829341°E / 15.498598; 73.829341
Country India
StateGoa
DistrictNorth Goa
HeadquartersPanaji
Settlements1 City
9 Towns
22 Villages
Government
 • Tehsildarna
 • Lok Sabha constituencyNorth Goa
 • Assembly constituencyna
 • MLAna
Area
 • Total193.64 km2 (74.76 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total177,219
 • Density920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy rate81.83%
 • Sex ratio966
Vehicle registrationGA-07
Rainna

Tiswadi, formerly known as Ilhas, is a taluka in the district of North Goa, situated in the Indian coastal state of Goa. It is an estuarine island situated on the confluence of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. It was one of the first territories to be annexed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Both the state capital Panaji, and the erstwhile capital Old Goa lie within the sub-district. It is the biggest and the most populated of the six major islands between the Mandovi and Zuari rivers.

Etymology[edit]

The word Tiswadi itself, originated in the late 1970s and it referred to thirty settlements of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmans who settled here after they migrated to Goa from Aryavarta. The descendants of these settlers now form the native Bammon (Catholic Brahman) community.[citation needed]

Geography[edit]

It is geographically made up of several small riverine islands within the Mandovi River forming its northern boundary, the Cumbarjua Canal making its eastern border, and the Zuari River making up its southern border.

As the native name suggests, the sub-district includes the smaller islands of:

History[edit]

Tiswadi, along with the rest of Goa, regularly exchanged hands between the Muslim Bhahmani Sultanate and the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire of South India prior to the 14th century. By the 15th century, the Bijapur Sultanate under the Adil Shahi dynasty conquered Goa, and it came under Muslim rule. The City of Goa was the regional capital of the sultanates as well as a hub for the Hajj pilgrimage. Numerous temples were demolished under the rule of the sultanates. The Adil Shahi dynasty was defeated by a Portuguese–Vijayanagar alliance, and Ilhas de Goa was conquered under Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510. By the time Tiswadi was relieved from Muslim rule, Hindus formed a minority in the region, and the Portuguese started conversion efforts against the Muslim majority. The populace was made to accept Christianity or leave the islands. There was a mass exodus of natives who left the islands, for the safer havens of Ponda and the Canara, Malabar Coast, Chandgad and Joida.[citation needed]

The first temple to be built in Panjim was in the mid-1700s, when the Portuguese authorities granted permission to the Hindus to build their place of worship.[citation needed]

The evangelization of Tiswadi was spearheaded by the Dominicans, who were assigned 15 villages, and the Jesuits, who were assigned the remaining part along with the smaller islands of Chorão and Divar, by the Portuguese authorities. In 1552, the island of Chorão had a population of 300 Christians out of 3,000 and, by this time, also had a small church which was visited by a Jesuit from St. Paul's every Sunday. By the end of 1559, over 1,200 had accepted baptism. The following year, the first bishop from the Jesuit order, Dom João Nunes de Barreto, set up residence in Chorão, which eventually became a Noviciate. Most of Chorão's population converted en masse to Roman Catholicism in mid-1560.[1]

By January 1563, the Jesuit provincial claimed that Ilhas de Goa had been completely Christianized, with a population of 70,000, the great majority of which had converted in the last six years, corresponding to the terms of Viceroys Francisco Barreto and Constantino of Braganza, whose 2+12-year term saw between 25,000 and 30,000 conversions.[1]

Demographics[edit]

As per the 2011 Census of India, Tiswadi Taluka has a population of 177,219 people. The sex-ratio of Tiswadi Taluka is around 966, compared to the state average of 973. The literacy rate of Tiswadi Taluka is 81.83% out of which 84.49% males are literate and 79.07% females are literate. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 1.81% and 10.60% of the population respectively. The total area of Tiswadi is 193.64 sq.km with population density of 915 per sq.km. 78.81% of population of the taluka lives in urban areas.[2]

Languages[edit]

Languages of Tiswadi Taluka (2011)[3]

  Konkani (65.51%)
  Hindi (10.64%)
  Marathi (6.62%)
  Kannada (5.27%)
  Urdu (2.78%)
  Malayalam (1.31%)
  Telugu (1.26%)
  English (1.14%)
  Others (5.47%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 65.51% of the population of Tiswadi Taluka spoke Konkani, 10.64% Hindi, 6.62% Marathi, 5.27% Kannada, 2.77% Urdu, 1.31% Malayalam, 1.26% Telugu and 1.14% English as their first language.[3]

Religion[edit]

Religion in Tiswadi Taluka (2011)[4]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
62.50%
Christianity
27.73%
Islam
9.27%
Other or not stated
0.50%

The majority of the population in Tiswadi Taluka follow Hinduism, although Christians and Muslims are a significant minority.

62.50% of the population in the Taluka follow Hinduism, 27.73% Christianity, 9.27% Islam and the remaining 0.50% follow other religions or stated no religion.[4]

Highlights[edit]

Panjim, Velha Goa and its monuments, Divar, Chorão

Settlements[edit]

Cities[edit]

# City State Population
1 Panjim Municipal Corporation Goa 40000

Towns[edit]

# Town State Population
1 Chimbel Census Town Goa 15,289
2 Calapor or Santa Cruz, Goa Census Town Goa 14,077
3 Murda, Census Town Goa 7,517
4 Bambolim Census Town Goa 6,885
5 Corlim Census Town Goa 6,568
6 Mercurim Census Town Goa 4,970
7 Cumbarjua Census Town Goa 4,917
8 Goa Velha Census Town Goa 4,322
9 Jua Census Town Goa 4,134
10 Old Goa (Velha Goa) Census Town Goa 2,550
11 Ribandar Census Town Goa 2,450
12 Tiswadi Census Town Goa 2,300

Villages[edit]

# Villages Administrative Division Population
1 Ambarim Tiswadi 93
2 Azossim Tiswadi 1,142
3 Bainguinim Tiswadi 1,501
4 Batim Tiswadi 1,489
5 Capão Tiswadi 135
6 Caraim Tiswadi 202
7 Carambolim Tiswadi 5,179
8 Chorão Tiswadi 5,268
9 Curca Tiswadi 2,518
10 Ella Tiswadi 5,372
11 Gancim Tiswadi 519
12 Gandaulim Tiswadi 301
13 Goalim Moula Tiswadi 441
14 Goltim Tiswadi 1,634
15 Malar Tiswadi 1,630
16 Mandur Tiswadi 3,113
17 Naroa Tiswadi 487
18 Navelim Tiswadi 1,133
19 Neura-O-Grande Tiswadi 1,440
20 Neura-O-Pequeno Tiswadi 563
21 Siridão Tiswadi 2,417[5]
22 Talaulim Tiswadi 972

Maps[edit]

The evidence of the existence of Ilhas de Goa can be seen on historic maps.

A historic map of the island of Goa, with an emphasis on the capital city
Another historic map of the island of Goa, with an emphasis on the capital city

Water Bodies[edit]

The island lies within the water bodies of:

Ferries[edit]

Prior to the construction of the bridges, the primary commute to and from the island was done via ferry. Some have become redundant, but most are still in use, they include:

Bridges[edit]

There are a number of bridges built over the last hundred years, linking the island to other parts of the mainland.

Northern Bridges[edit]

These bridges are built over the Mandovi River. They pass through the villages of Penha de França and the city of Panjim:

Eastern Bridges[edit]

These bridges are built over the Cumbarjua Canal.

Southern Bridges[edit]

These bridges are built over the Zuari River. They pass through the villages of Agaçaim and Cortalim.

Internal Bridges[edit]

These bridges are a link to places within the island, which are geographically close, but are separated by a body of water.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians, Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, pp. 100–101.
  2. ^ "District Census Hand Book – North Goa" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  3. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Goa". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  4. ^ a b "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Goa". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  5. ^ "Siridao Village Population - Tiswadi - North Goa, Goa". Census 2011 India. 29 May 1980. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Travel on Panaji-Betim ferry route not to be charged | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  7. ^ "Ribandar-Chorao ferry ramp nears completion | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. ^ "How to Reach Divar Island in Goa". India News, Breaking News | India.com. 20 November 2017.
  9. ^ "56 years on, Goa's oldest ferry-tale comes to an end | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  10. ^ "Ferry services disrupted for two hours at Gandaulim | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Ferry service on Agassaim-Cortalim route". oHeraldo.
  12. ^ Times, Navhind (9 July 2016). "Thirty years after Mandovi Bridge collapse".
  13. ^ "Vehicles on Atal Setu only from February 5 | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  14. ^ "Gaundalim, Cumbarjua bridges opened for traffic". The Goan EveryDay.
  15. ^ "Banastari Bridge | IndiaUnveiled". www.indiaunveiled.in.
  16. ^ "Banastarim bridge work to hit Tiswadi water supply | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Work on new Zuari bridge may start by Sept 2013: Dhavalikar - Times Of India". 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  18. ^ "First section of new Zuari bridge to open in December 2020 | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  19. ^ "CCP Goa :: City Information". www.ccpgoa.com.