PHYSICAL FEATURES, HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS OF GOA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS OF GOA

 Governor : Shivinder Singh Sidhu
 Chief Minister : Digambar Kamat
 Capital: Panaji
 Legislature: Unicameral
 Lok Sabha seats: 2
 Judicature: Mumbai High Court
 Languages: Marathi, Konkani and English
 Population density: 363/sq km
 No. of districts: 2
 Main crops: Rice, ragi, cashewnuts, coconut, groundnut, pulses, sugarcane
 Rivers: Mandovi, Zuari, Terkhol, Chaporaand Betul
 Minerals: Iron ore, manganese and bauxite
 Industries: Mining and various small-scale industries like manufacturing
 paper, soaps etc.
 Airport: Dabolim

PHYSICAL FEATURES 
Goa is situated on the western (Konkan) coast of the Indian Peninsula, has a coastline of 131 km. It has a partly hilly terrain, with the Western Ghats rising to nearly 1200 metres in some parts of the state.

The island of Goa lies between the mouths of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, which are connected on the landward side by a creek. The island is triangular in shape, with a cape in the form of a rocky headland that divides the harbour of Goa into two parts— Aguada at the mouth of the Mandovi, on the north, and Mormugao or Marmagao at the mouth of the Zuari, on the south.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Abounds in the rich historial heritage, Goa, was known by various names in the past, as Gomanchala, Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Govapuri, Gomantak, etc.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

 14th century - Khiljis of Delhi displaced the empire of the Yadavas and thus Muslim rule came to Goa.

 1498 - Vasco-da-Gama discovered sea route to India reached GOA, many Portuguese expeditions came to India.

 1510 - Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa

 1542 - Arrival of the Jesuit priest Francis Xavier, proselytisation began in Goa.

 17th century - Shivaji conquered a few areas in and around Goa. But Portugese continued to rule over the territory. Even after India’s independence, Goa continued to be in the hands of the Portuguese. The state was liberated on 19 December 1961, and made a composite union territory with Daman and Diu. On 30 May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and Daman and Diu was made a separate union territory.

 The liberation of Goa by force during the primeministership of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru in the Dec. 1961 was most criticized by the western world.