The Unnerving Struggle to Remain A Hindu - VII

They deserved ' no kindness or mercy and shall be burnt up '. ( Papal Bull - reference ) European history has all the details of the Inquisition. ( One must read it to believe in the existence of it. ) The methods and cruel ways of implementation are beyond the imagination of the human mind but it has all the details noted by many. When the Portuguese reached Goa (at the beginning of the 16th century), started the conversion. Hindus had their own way of life and practices, so it was decided to use the tried and tested method of the Inquisition. In 1543 Padre Miguel Vas wrote to the King about it, St Francis Xavier reiterated it, but it did not get the attention it needed. In 1551, Nunes Barreto, a Jesuit missionary wrote to the father of Rome about the need for the Inquisition to ' herd them into right path'. In 1560 the Inquisition was introduced in Goa after the death of King Joao. It lasted for two and a half centuries scorching the Goa.

Dr. Dellon, a French catholic who had the taste of this terrifying process, somehow managed to get freedom using diplomatic status and returned to his country. He published all the details of the trials and agony he had to face in French. ( Ref Shri A K Priyolkar's book on ' The Goa Inquisition ', brought all the details of the inhuman nature of the Goa Inquisition into light ) Obviously, all the details are made to vanish from the official Portuguese records.
The palace of Adil Shah was made the Holy office which was the residence of the governor of Goa till then. It was modified to the needs of the Inquisition. There were rooms assigned for secretive trials, prison, and for trying third-degree procedures which was a sound-proof space, that would not let the sound of an outburst of the accused. The building had a tall wall around it, it was named ' Santa Casa '. Its meaning is a heaven of peace. ( What a mockery ) The cells had no windows, and hardly any ventilation and 2 or 3 inmates used to be in cells that were barely sufficient for 1. No one could think of jail-breaking. The condition described upsets readers, as the inmates were not criminals in the modern sense. Their belief in their way of life ( Dharma ) was treated to be a crime. They performed rites and rituals of their original faith,performed rites related to shraddha, this made them heathens or anti-religious persons trapped by the Devil. This included men as well as women. The responsibility of proving oneself innocent was with the accused.

The assets of the accused used to be confiscated the moment someone was put into jail. It was never returned even if proven innocent later which was almost impossible. The expenses of Santa Casa were met by selling the assets of the accused. There was no system at all for such trials, nor was there any scope for escape. Torture was the way to get the confession. It is painful to read the details of atrocities inflicted, absolutely inhumane. ( One cannot imagine that boiling oil was poured, burning sulphur sprinkled, depriving the person of water, making one sit naked on the chair with nails pointed part upwards to get the person's confession. Many more ways to torture are described which is difficult to write about.

Mr Alexandr Herculano, a famous writer of the 19th century in his book,' The atrocities let loose on pregnant women caused abortions, ' .' They were not spared by the monstrously cruel dealings of the avowed sentinels of religion. ' There are more details given by Dr Dellon, reading it causes a mix of revulsion and hatred. (Especially about the abhorrent practices like pully trick, the water spout and, fire strapping ) This makes us feel that authorities were obsessed with proving their claim anyhow. Now one does not find the Inquisition palace or Holy office in Goa. They were demolished, but a symbol still remains in Vela Goa. The HATHKATHRO KHAMBO, the Pillar for the Amputation of the Hands. The accused were tied to the pillar and their hands were severed using rope, then burnt alive. This started in the 16th century ( 1560 ) and was abandoned in 1774, again raising its head in 1812 for 88 years. All the records were burnt, but some correspondence among the king, the viceroy and the Arch Bishop reveals that 23000 people were punished and 1454 were burnt alive. ( This is a partial assessment ) The number of lives that perished is beyond the imagination.

Portuguese historian Mr Olive Martins observed that it ' violated all the basic tenets of goodwill and justice. ' The close relatives were forced to give evidence, the identity of the complainants was not disclosed, and the people in the reliable roles reported to authorities. No appeals could be made,n and o re-assessment was allowed. The entire system was corrupt, inquisitors tricked the accused to get the information by playing the mind game.

The holy soil of Bharat, the land of Saint Parsuram, had to witness horrific and inhuman things in the name of religion for no fault of innocent people. Generations after generations had to live with this hell to let us be proud Hindus. How can one forget their supreme sacrifice? We all ought to know how they fought their toughest battle. We certainly cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the truth.

Shri A K Priyolkar wrote a book,' THE GOA INQUISITION ', which has all the historical details. One can read it to know it in its real sense. It shatters the reader's mind.