Whose Heritage? Classification of National Monuments in the Former Portuguese Estado da Índia during the Colonial Period, and its Post-Colonial Decolonisation

The study explores the process of studying and preserving the architectural heritage of the Portuguese Estado da Índia, examining the classification of the national monuments in Goa, Daman and Diu. This process occurred later than similar initiatives in the British Raj and Portugal, and it reflects various political, cultural, and historical factors. The essay investigates, for the first time and in a wide range, the reasons for the survey, study and listing of monuments in these territories by the Portuguese colonial regime, their effective applicability, and the post-colonial decolonisation of the existing heritage legislation. By analysing official bulletins, reports, newspaper articles, historical photographs, and conducting personal interviews, this article provides a comprehensive examination of the patrimonialisation process in the former Estado da Índia, shedding light on the listing of national monuments in 1932 and its ongoing consequences, namely its impact on the relationship between the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the Archaeological Survey of India in the post-colonial era.