ABSTRACT

Goa is a tiny region of 3,700 square km. situated on the west coast of India. After being ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties and for a brief period by the Muslims, it was conquered by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. Colonial domination continued for 450 years until the liberation of Goa in 1961. Approximately a third of the present population are Roman Catholic, the descendants of 16th and 17th century converts, the rest being Hindus.