Velim (English: /veɪliːm/ ; formerly Velliapura[5]) is a large village situated in Salcete, neighbouring Quepem taluka, and falls under South Goa district, in the coastal state of Goa. It has access to the Arabian Sea via the Sal river that flows through it and shares its borders with neighbouring villages and towns of Assolna, Ambelim, Betul, and Cuncolim. The village consists of 22 hamlets or subdivisions which have been organized into 9 wards.[6] As of 2020, the village has a total population of about 8600 residents residing in 2568 households.[7] It is a part of the Velim Assembly constituency.
Velim
Vellem | |
|---|---|
Village | |
From top, left to right:
| |
| Nickname: Sleepy fishing village | |
  Velim Location in Goa  Velim Location in India | |
| Coordinates: 15°09′52″N 73°58′33″E / 15.1644°N 73.9759°E[1] | |
| Country | India |
| State | Goa |
| District | South Goa |
| Sub-district | Salcete |
| Government | |
| • Type | Zilla Panchayat Gram Panchayat |
| • Body | Zilla Parishad Village Panchayat |
| • Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly | Cruz Silva (AAP) |
| • Member of the Zilla Panchayat | Juliao Fernandes[2] (INC) |
| • Sarpanch | Veena Cardozo[3] |
| • Deputy Sarpanch | Anthony Rebello[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.14 km2 (3.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,600 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Velicar/Velimcar |
| Languages | |
| • Official | |
| • Additional/Cultural | Romi Konkani Portuguese |
| Time zone | UTC 5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 403723 |
| Telephone code | 0832 |
| Vehicle registration | GA |
| Website | vpvelim |
Etymology
editThe word "Velim" derives from two words, "Vell" which translates to "shore" and "halli" which means "village", put together to form Velim, also known as village with a seashore.
History
editEarly history
editWorld renowned historian, George M. Moraes wrote about the Velliapura (present-day Velim) family, in his book "Kadamba Kula, A History of Ancient and Mediaeval Karnataka".[8] Jayakesi, the son of Shashtha-Deva, was a very powerful ruler[9][10] mentioned in a stone inscription of Kadamba King Jayakesi I, dated 1054 CE as Panajnakhani (present-day Panaji),[11] giving him the epithet of Padavalendra which is Kannada for lord of the western ocean.
Twelfth century copper carvings reveal that princes and lords from neighbouring kingdoms traveled to Chandrapura (present-day Chandor), to pay homage to Kadamba Jayakesi, who was the sovereign of Konkan. "Velliapura Viragal " at 'Xavierian Research Centre tell that Jayakesi himself was in a battle with his rival to retain this place Velliapura won a decisive victory, which was his southern capital.
According to their resource after the 1266/1345, 16 October massacre the surviving Queen, Vinomaih devi, moved away from the furious Mohammedans in Chandrapura, and was taken into hiding in the Velliapura royal compound by the foothills of Velim. The inscription stones in Kannada found at Velim site tell that Suriya-Deva 1345CE slain-ed sovereign of Chandrapura, his Queen Vinomaih-devi died and was cremated in Velliapura by her nephew Jayeshi, son of ShankaraDeva, grandson of Purandara Deva.[12][13]
Portuguese period
editThe Catholic missionary St. Francis Xavier is documented to have made landfall at the Port of Cabo de Rama at some point during the 16th century. From this coastal entry point, Xavier is believed to have traveled the approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) distance to the inland village of Velim, likely using pedestrian means of transportation common to the era. During his time in Velim, the historical record indicates that Xavier engaged in efforts to convert local residents to the Catholic faith. However, the blacksmith community in Velim was unreceptive to Xavier's evangelical activities and ultimately compelled him to depart the village. As a result of this episode, St. Francis Xavier has since been designated and venerated as the patron saint of Velim.[14]
Geography
editVelim is located at 15°9′52″N 73°58′33″E / 15.16444°N 73.97583°E. It has an average elevation of 9 m (30 ft).[1]
Demographics
editThe village had a population of 5,955 residents of which 2,805 were males and 3,150 are females, making up to 1,536 families as per the Population Census 2011. The population is predominantly Roman Catholics, with a small number of Hindus and Muslims. The people of Velim often refer to themselves as Vellikar or Velimcar.[15]
Village subdivisions/wards
editThis section needs expansion with: summary section defining the wards and clarifying which subdivisions are part of which wards. Lead states 9 wards and 22 subdivisions, but it is not clear from this section how they are grouped. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
The village wards include, Naik-Caiero, Silvas, Ubdando, Mascarenhas/Goleaband, Cumbeabhat/Paxel, Gorcomorod/Gorka-Moroda, Caroi, Sibrete, Tollecanto, Baradi/Bapsoro, Muxer , Pocklivoll/Khoroit, Rangalim/Zuem, Carxeta, Cutbona, Zaino/Olli-Zaino/Fondop.
Ward I
edit
Ward I is a well developed ward, containing the village subdivisions, Naik-Caiero, Silvas and Ubdando; it shares its borders with neighbouring subdivisions, Cumbeabhat (part), Mascarenhas/Goleaband and Cumbeabhat/Paxel. It is part of the Velim Assembly constituency and is about 15 km (9.3 mi) away from the Margao city.[16] It has an urban appearance and is home to the Velim village panchayat. Apart from residential areas, it includes a small housing complex, general market, stores, and a fish market, on a small scale.
The manufacturing and telecommunications hallmark in the ward can also be seen in the steel cupboard fabricating factory and the BSNL tower that's located at Naik-Caiero.[17] One of the two catholic churches of the village, the St. Francis Xavier Church is located in the vicinity of the velim panchayat. It is also close to the diocesan affiliated high school bearing the same name and caters to students from first to tenth grade. The interspersed in the architectural framework of this ward are a significant number of coconut palms.[16][18]
Ward II
editWard II is a hilly area, including village subdivisions Mascarenhas/Goleaband, Cumbeabhat (part), Cumbeabhat/Paxel; the ward consists of large forest cover and paddy fields that are interspersed with a number of houses. A consequential proportion of the tribal community of the Velim village are located in this ward. Cashew, mango, and coconut are the prominent large vegetation species to be found here. The appearance of wild seasonal mushrooms is also considerable.
Domesticated animals are kept as livestock and also used as dairy farming. Some of the freshwater fish that can be found here are thigur, chikole, and valaye. A large variety of wild fauna are found here, including various types of snakes, leopards, rabbits, foxes, and monkeys, as well as birds such as bulbuls, parrots, karate, cuckoos, etc.
Ward III
editWard III has a very noteworthy proportion of the tribal community of the village, which comprises 80% of the total population in the ward. The ward includes hilly areas with forest cover, as well as cultivated agricultural fields that are interspersed with houses. The agricultural fields are used for the cultivation of paddy and vegetables. A notable number of coconut and banana plants can be spotted, and cashew is the most commonly occurring species within the forest cover. There are two freshwater springs that can be found in this ward.
The occurrence of wild mushrooms and a variety of medicinal plants are substantial. The fresh water fish includes tigur and goromb. Wild fauna like leopards, rabbits, foxes, monkeys; snakes such as cobra, python, rattle snake, russel's viper, and mandulpeshe; and birds like bulbul, parrot, karate, cuckoo, and peafowl are found here. There's also a canal that runs through this ward, which was constructed for the supply of water for irrigation purposes from the Salaulim Dam.
Government and politics
editVelim is part of Velim Assembly constituency and South Goa Lok Sabha constituency.
Sports
editThe village has a playground located opposite to the St. Francis Xavier Church. It also has a sports complex, constructed by then Velim constituency MLA, Benjamin Silva, situated in Tollecanto, known as the Velim sports complex that shut its construction since 2017.[19]
On 26 March 2022, The Director of Sports Authority of Goa, Vandana Rao assured to take appropriate actions on the ambitious project.[19] The initiative was led by the current MLA of Velim constituency, Cruz Silva who sent letters to the SAG director and other sports officials to direct the examination of the project, further ensuring that the infrastructure is put to use for the benefit of the local youth. He also suggested a possibility of having the sports complex host the FIFA U-17 Girls World cup.[19]
The inspection revealed that the infrastructure was ready in all aspects with only the football ground pitches that were left incomplete. The director promised to place the proposal of the sports complex as a venue to host the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Fr. Allan Travasso, the priest in charge of St. Rock Church, Tollecanto, stated that the director was thrilled to notice the sports complex with so many facilities and infrastructure. He also appreciated the work done by Benjamin Silva towards the sports complex and further stated that the complex should also become a community centre.[19]
Notable people
edit- Antonio Piedade da Cruz, 20th-century painter and sculptor
- Ben Antao, Canadian writer, journalist, teacher, writer and certified financial planner
- Comedian Selvy (Matheus Correia; 1974 –2022), Konkani comedian, actor, singer, playwright, director and producer
- Dr. Sebastiao Mazarelo, first MLA of Cuncolim Assembly constituency and medical practitioner
- Fr. Nevel Gracias (1964 – 2022), popular tiatrist known for lenten tiatrs.[20]
- Jose Mario Vaz, former headmaster of St. Xavier's High School
- Luis Mendes, freedom fighter and Goan nationalist
- Roque Santana Fernandes, freedom fighter and former MLA of Cuncolim Assembly constituency[21]
- Savio Rodrigues, writer, journalist, environmentalist and politician
- Sushila Sawant Mendes, associate history professor at Goa Government College of Arts, Science, Quepem
- Vece Paes, retired Indian field hockey player[22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Velim, India Page", Falling Rain Genomics, retrieved 6 July 2017
- ^ "Goa Zilla Panchayat Election Results 2020: Counting of votes under way | Goa News". The Times of India. 14 December 2020.
- ^ "New faces to preside over majority of Salcete p'yats". The Goan EveryDay.
- ^ "Sarpanch & Dy Sarpanch elected in 186 panchayats today". Digital Goa. 23 August 2022.
- ^ Moraes, George M. (1990). The Kadamba Kula: A History of Ancient and Mediaeval Karnataka. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0595-4.
- ^ "Vanishing Velim". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ Isidore Domnick Mendis (24 February 2020). "Keeping decades of tradition alive | Goa News". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Moraes, George M. (1990). K Kula Velliapura inscriptions pg 181 190 317 384. ISBN 9788120605954. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Title: Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu: district gazetteer, Volume 1; Publisher: Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, 1979 (Original from the University of Michigan, Digitised: 30 August 2008)
- ^ "EPIGRAPHICAL AND LITERARY SOURCES ON WORSHIP IN GOA'S PAST" (PDF). ShodhGanga.
- ^ De Souza, Teotonio R. (1990). Goa Through the Ages: An economic history, Volume 2. Concept Publishing Company. p. 129. ISBN 9788170222590.
- ^ Rā Kulakarṇī, A.; Nayeem, M. A.; De Souza, Teotonio R. (1996). Mediaeval Deccan History pg 78,211 132. ISBN 9788171545797. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Karnataka Gazetteer 132". Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "What makes Velim special and Holy". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ C. Chandramouli (2015) [2010–11], "Velim Population – South Goa, Goa", Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Government of India, Census Organization of India, retrieved 6 July 2017
- ^ a b "Gram Panchayat Development Plan, Velim" (PDF). Village Panchayat Velim - GPDP. 2020–2021.
- ^ "Keeping decades of tradition alive". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Government of Goa (7 October 1977). Gazette of Goa, No. 7778-27, SIII.
- ^ a b c d "SAG assures completion of Velim sports complex after MLA Silva takes up issue". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Marcus Mergulhao (14 May 2022). "Goa: 'One-man show' Fr Nevel Gracias passes away at 58 | Goa News". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "[Goanet] Roque Santana: man who wanted Goa free". goanet.goanet.narkive.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Leander Paes joins TMC in Goa as party gears up for Assembly polls". The Indian Express. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
