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Dona Paula, Goa
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by Romeo P. Viegas | August 1, 2008 at 07:30 am
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at 09:28 on August 1st, 2008
Thanks for the great picture. Is there a story or more background behind it?
at 09:42 on September 17th, 2008
The name "Dona Paula" is supposedly the name of the daughter of one of Goa's Viceroys, who threw herself off the cliff after she was refused permission to marry a local fisherman with whom she fell in love. As a matter of fact, the story is purely fictional and invented as a romance, and lacking in any historical basis. There never was any such woman Dona Paula.
Incidentally, the name is itself incorrect and reflects the Indians' romantic misconception of Goa. The correct name would have been "Paola", not "Paula", and an unmarried woman would not be given the title of "Donna", which means "Mrs." or "Shrimati".
Today it is a very popular tourist vista point that offers a view of Mormugao across the bay and during summer, there is a service by boat from Dona Paula to Vasco da Gama City across the bay.
By the ferry jetty, there is a whitewashed statue sculpted by Baroness Von Leister; aptly named "Image of India". It depicts a couple both facing opposite directions, the man towards the nations past and the woman towards the future. The statue was erected by the Indian government of Goa sometime in the late 1960s in order to serve as a tourist attraction. (just for your info)
at 03:34 on September 8th, 2008
Currently there is no story for this picture.
at 10:38 on November 6th, 2008
Prajal Shakardande(goan historian) has researched this topic thoroughly and has proof to his accounts. He has found the grave of Dona Paula Amaral Antonio de Souto Maior in the transept of the Chapel at the Governor's Palace where a part of her history is engraved on her gravestone. Shakardande also stated that, "Dona Paula was a woman of charity and is known to have helped the villagers and worked a lot for their betterment, so after her death, the villagers decided to re-name the village as Dona Paula. Initially the village was called Oddavell."
Now that the truth is out, one more thing needs to be sorted out and that is the alleged statue of 'Dona-Paulo.' According to Heta Pandit in her book 'Walking in Goa,' the statue seen today at the jetty in Dona Paula is in reality the sculpture of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Knox. It was a Dutch sculptress, Baroness Yrse Von Leistner who etched the sculpture as she was in awe of the philosopher Robert Knox.