The XAVIER CENTRE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH (XCHR), set up in 1977, is an expression of the intellectual activity of the Jesuits in general and of the Jesuit Province of Goa in particular. However, the Jesuit intellectual work in Goa is almost as old as the presence of Society of Jesus itself here, that arrived with St Francis Xavier in 1542. The then Society was exclusively for Europeans and the history they wrote was greatly entangled with and in favour of the Portuguese colonial rulers in Goa.
The post-liberation needs of the Goan people since 1961 prompted the emergence of the Xavier Centre. The post-colonial trends brought radical changes in the organisation of the Church in India and of the Society of Jesus which proved decisive for the Jesuits of Goa to establish this Centre of Historical Research in order to preserve and research into their cultural identity and social responsibilities. The political liberation had to be followed by other forms of liberation and historical awareness. The XCHR is privileged to assist in that process. The Centre was primarily meant to serve as a base conducive for scholarly research of high standard in the history and culture of Western India.
The activities of the XCHR began in 1979 when political relations between India and Portugal improved rapidly since 1974. The Xavier Centre helped this process at the cultural level by its involvement in the organisation of International Seminars on Indo-Portuguese History (ISIPH) and promoting Portuguese language as a necessary tool for history research and cultural links. The XCHR is a legal entity registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. The Centre is recognised by the Goa University for its excellent infrastructure and research work.
The Xavier Centre is designed to serve as a base for scholarly research in the history and cultural heritage of India, with particular emphasis on contemporary cultural and social issues affecting the State of Goa. Through the specially constructed building (1983), the Centre seeks to promote a forum for exchange of ideas, information and expertise for visitors and seeks association with like-minded groups and individuals for promotion of these objectives.
What we Do
- Seminars and Workshops
- Institutional collaboration
- XCHR Library
CCR TV Visits – Xavier Centre of Historical Research
Recent Posts
(In)Visible Skin: The Architectural History of the Basilica of Bom Jesus
By Vishvesh Kandolkar The next exposition of St. Francis Xavier’s relics to be held in 2024 will mark 400 years since the transfer of the saint’s…
WHAT CAN GOA LEARN FROM THE EFFORTS OF INDIGENOUS FARMERS TO NURTURE AGRO-BIODIVERSITY IN LAOS? (S.E. Asia)
Drawing on the stories of farmers from northern Laos and the principles she observed in her interactions with them, the speaker will reflect on the relevance these principles may have for the current challenges we face in many parts of the world, including Goa. Through the course of her presentation, she will also reflect on her writing process and various choices she made in telling the story of indigenous farmers and their vision of the future.
Online History Hour programme-AN INTRODUCTION TO GOAN HINDU ICONOGRAPHY by Dr. Rohit Phalgaonkar
Speaker: Dr. Rohit Phalgaonkar
Date: Thursday, 22nd October 2020
Time: 6:00 pm IST
Online platform: Zoom
Zoom meeting ID: 915 3545 5388
Book release of ‘Public History of Goa’
The book ‘Public History of Goa’ – a collection of 20 short essays on Goa and all about Goa is edited by Savio Abreu, Anthony da Silva and Rinald D’Souza.
Movie Screening of ‘Saxtticho Koddo’
Saxtticho Koddo – The Granary of Salcette was screened yesterday at XCHR. After the movie there was a short interaction with the Director, Mr Vince Costa.
History Hour Talk: Biryani and Bebinca
Talk at XCHR – Biryani and Bebinca: Goa within the Indian Religious Tradition followed by the book release of Dr Robert Newman’s books
Goa History Quiz -GHQ
Students comprising 45 teams from 25 Schools from all over South Goa District made their presence felt at the GHQ 2018. We were pleased to…
CONFERENCE: “Towards a History of the Jesuits in South Asia: Post Restoration Period”
The conference witnessed 16 paper presentations by scholars from all over India and also from Nepal and Italy.
History Hour 98 – Personal Experiences of a Konkani Tiatrist by Wilmix held on Thursday, 21st April, 2016.
“Konkani tiatr”, said to be the biggest theatre-form in India and probably also in Asia, originated in Mumbai. The story of how it all began…