Patki Richa Nitin

CR4051

Examining Portuguese era Modernism in Goa - Analyzing the influences that shaped public architecture in Goa from 1926 to 1961:While modernism in architecture is often associated with social progress, representing a break from traditional forms and an embrace of industrialization and rationality, its development within the Indian subcontinent has been primarily studied in the context of British India. This focus has yielded valuable insights into how modernist architecture was employed as a tool for nation building, expressing a new identity for an independent India. However, this research acknowledges that Goa’s unique position under Portuguese rule for over four centuries significantly shaped its architectural trajectory in a distinct manner. The influences specific to the Estado da Índia, the political entity that governed Portuguese India, played a crucial role in the evolution of modernism in Goa. These included a different set of colonial priorities, cultural interactions, economic conditions, and specific influences of individuals, leading to a unique interpretation of modernist principles. This is evident particularly during the period from 1926 until Liberation. This timeframe is significant as it largely coincides with the period of António de Oliveira Salazar and Estado Novo.