Despite the decline of the old city of Goa, the capital of Portuguese India, the contradictions and impasses throughout the 18th century in transferring the administrative and symbolic State apparatus to the city of Mormugao at the mouth of the river Zuari, which was the first proposed alternative capital to Old Goa, resulted in the switch of the capital to Panjim being carried out only very gradually. The major differences of opinion, both amongst the general population and within the government, most defi nitely contributed to the transfer being slow and being effected without great conviction. Indeed, even though the local government considered the move of the administrative services to Panjim to be important, it could not muster up the political muscle to do so avowedly.
by Alice Santiago Faria
Attached file to this document : ASF_MURPHY_2007