ABSTRACT
The fin-de-siècle in Bombay saw a bitter rivalry between its two largest Catholic communities, the East-Indians and the Goans. As Goan immigration into Bombay grew, the local East-Indians felt threatened, not only because of issues of identity but also because elements from both communities often vied for the same jobs.
This rivalry was exacerbated by overlapping Catholic religious jurisdictions, with the Portuguese Padroado and the Propaganda Fide entangled over control of the city's parishes. Goans were staunch supporters of the Padroado, while the East-Indians campaigned for its extinction from the late nineteenth century onwards. Rivalry between the two religious jurisdictions also had a more ‘productive’ side, as both embarked on a frenzy of church building and social improvement initiatives. The rival dioceses built two new churches in Bombay almost simultaneously: the Holy Name of Jesus, Colaba (1902–1905) and Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra (1902–1904).
By following this controversy in the main periodicals of Bombay associated to the Goan community – the Anglo-Lusitano – to the Propaganda Fide structure – Examiner – and to the East-Indian community – Bombay East-Indian – we will address the essential role played by the Press and religious architecture in framing the communities' collective identities.
