Of Nag people, birds and a football ground

Isidore Domnick Mendis

With a vibrant bird population, rows of palm trees, a varied landscape and a football ground of international standards, Nagoa, in Mormugao taluka, has much to offer a visitor.Admeasuring 518 hectares,

Nagoa

is surrounded by the villages of Cansaulim, Verna and Cortalim and houses a population of 3,783 persons, of which, 2,387 are voters.

According to some, this

village

derives its name from the Nag people, worshippers of Lord Shiva and Mahamaya, who resided in this land a thousand years ago. Archaeological records also suggest that a Mahalaxmi temple, along with a satellite group of temples, existed here centuries ago.

"Culturally rich, Nagoa has been home to achievers who are highly- educated and successful in their respective fields. Its residents have, till date, lived like a family. The people enjoy a very good bond, both with the church and with the temple," says Laxman Revonkar, resident of Pirni and retired teacher of Our Lady of Succour High School.Nagoa was initially grouped with the Verna panchayat when the panchayat system was introduced in

Goa in 1963. It got its own village panchayat on November 19, 1997.

The wards of Nagoa include Castel, Pirni, Santbolem/Jina, Sonarvaddo, Mazilvaddo, Pimpalvaddo 1 and Pimpalvaddo 2.

The village is home to the 1963-established Pax of Nagoa Sports Club, which has been promoting young footballers of the village in the age groups of 14 and 16, respectively.

Nagoa’s football ground hosts inter-village matches, Goa Football Association activities, while top football teams such as FC Goa and Salgaocar FC also practice on the ground.

Residents’ Speak

The comunidade system was very well developed in Nagoa. Land was allotted according to the skills of the people. Much of the land for Verna industrial estate and the entire area of the railway station actually belongs to Nagoa

John Phillip Pereira | resident

Due to the efforts by, both, past and present leaders, the village is self-sufficient and has all up-to-date amenities such as a library, gymnasium, home for the aged, senior citizens club, football ground etc.

Jackson Gonsalves | resident

Sarpanch’s take

The migrant population has put a tremendous strain on Nagoa’s infrastructure, especially on the health and security front. Dengue deaths have occurred in Mount Mary colony,

an area where migrants are residing in. They have been a cause of concern on the law and order front, because crimes have taken place in the village.

Franky Vales

RENOWNED RESIDENTS

Late Francis Noronha was Regedor (village head) during the Portuguese era.

Late Dr Antonio Noronha (1873-1933) was attorney general of Goa and chief justice of the Goa High Court during the Portuguese era.

Froilano Machado (1925-2008) was a freedom fighter, speaker of the Goa legislative assembly (1979-1984), advocate, writer and poet.

Late Dr Constancio Roque Monteiro (1908 – 1980) was general physician, poet and writer. His name appears in the Ecyclopedia of Brazil, Luso Brasileira.

Late Maria Cristina Monteiro was a Portuguese primary school teacher in the 1950s.

Late Antonio Bernard Francisco Pereira (1922 -2016) was a retired postmaster and also served as an attorney for two decades in the Nagoa Comunidade.

Late Minguel Dourado aka Minguel Rod was a tiatrist.

Late Joao Valadares was founder-owner of Royal Foods.

Late Francis Simon Cabral was an industrialist. He was also owner of a club.

Fr Galdino Monteiro is a noted academician at Pilar Society.

Elvino Pereira is an air force officer and former principal of Government Multipurpose School, Borda.

Irineu Gonsalves is a retired footballer and national-level scrabble champion in 2012.

Norbert Gonsalves was a defender who played for India (1989) and also donned colours for Salgaocar SC, Dempo SC, Vasco SC etc.

Dr Armando D’Silva is a noted dentist

Diana Pinto is an English writer.

Heritage trail

Our Lady of Succour and Good Success Chapel

Before the parish church came into being in 1973, the villagers were served by the Nossa Senhora de Socorro e Bom Sucesso chapel

Mount Carmel Chapel

Situated at Mazilvaddo, it is over 450-years-old and is part of the Solar Machado house, which is among the few houses in Goa that has stables for horses.

The Pillar

A few metres away from the Shree Naguesh Mahamaya Sansthan, is a heritage pillar. It is believed to be either a part of the Mahalaxmi temple or another ancient temple.

Shree Naguesh Mahamaya Sansthan

This temple, dedicated to Ishwar (Nagesh Mahamaya) i.e. Lord Shiva, took 15 years to build and was inaugurated on May 16, 2014.

Comunidade House

This building, situated at Mazilvaddo, has been the centre for the functioning of Nagoa’s land ownership rights. The building also served as a government primary school before 1961 and for a few years after it.

Home for the Aged

This 200-year-old ancestral house at Mazilvaddo belongs to the Furtado Cabral family. Since 1962, it is being run by the Sisters of St Joseph of

Cluny and provides shelter to 66 aged persons.

Our Lady of Succour High School

The school completed its golden jubilee in 2015. Villagers remember the invaluable contribution of late reverend Fr Bruno Diniz, founder and its principal from 1965 to 1994.

Cabral House

This 300-year-old ancestral house is among the elegant homes of Nagoa. Other noted ones include the da Gama house, Solar Machado house etc.