Agaçaim Explained

Agaçaim
Other Name:Agassaim
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:India Goa#India3
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Agaçaim in Goa
Coordinates:15.4264°N 73.8989°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Goa
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:North Goa
Subdivision Type3:Sub-district
Subdivision Name3:Ilhas de Goa
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:Postcode
Postal Code:403204
Area Code:0832

Agaçaim (pronounced Aagshi) or Agassaim, is a village on the northern banks of the Zuari River in Tiswadi, Goa, surrounded by Panjim to the north, Margão to the south, Vasco da Gama to the west and Ponda to the east, thus making it a main connection between North Goa and South Goa via the Zuari Bridge. Agaçaim is famous for its Goan chouriço.

History

Agaçaim was a bazaar/mercado/market turned migrating Christian community on the fringes of the Indian Ocean and is attested by the discovery of stone crosses with Pahlavi (archaic Persian) inscription in several places along the west coast of India.[1] The 2001 discovery of a granite stone cross by Father Cosme Costa, sfx, has been dated to the seventh century with a Pahlavi inscription.

Agassaim near Agaçaim has played a significant role in the political scene of Goa, be it the Save Goa Campaign or the Konkani language agitation in 1986. During these events, seven martyrs died for the Konkani language.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Maritime India: Trade, Religion and Polity in the Indian Ocean. 9789380607016. Malekandathil. Pius. 2010.