How did Portuguese administrators treat Goa’s village communities after the conquest?

Following the conquest of Goa, early Portuguese administrators, including Afonso de Albuquerque, largely left the customs and constitutions of the 30 village communities on the island untouched. The only significant exception was the abolition of the rite of suttee.12

To formalize this approach, the colonial administration compiled a register of these existing local practices known as the Foral dos usos e costumes (Charter of Usages and Customs) in 1526, which remains a valuable historical document.1

However, it is important to note that this initial policy of non-interference did not characterize the entirety of Portuguese rule. In later periods, particularly during the Goa Inquisition, the colonial government adopted a much harsher stance toward the local population. This included the destruction of Hindu temples, the banning of indigenous cultural and religious practices, and the forced conversion of many locals to Catholicism, which fundamentally disrupted the social fabric of the region.3