Christmas Eve

On the Christmas eve of 1524, Vasco Da Gama, the greatest of all the sailors, on his third visit to India, died at Fort Cochin and was buried at the historical church of St. Francis. 496 years, since.

Vasco Da Gama

Worlds Most prestigious documents by UNESCO, "Memory of World Register" established in 1992, contains 299 documents from five continents. One of them is Vasco Da Gama's hand written journal of his first voyage to India during which he arrived at Calicut on May 20th of 1498. It is written by a mysterious man aboard the ship and contains the misfortunes and triumphs of the voyage sharing in words every step taken by the adventurous sea man and his crew. Undoubtedly an exciting read about the incidents that changed the history of the world. The journal contains first hand witnessing of treason, diseases, meeting with our ancestors, war equipments, animals, plants, trees, musical and nautical instruments, food, villages, difficult navigational situations etc and also Portuguese words for the Calicut words.

Vasco's sea route

Vasco Da Gama was lucky to find a Mohmedian navigator from the eastern coast of Africa, Ahmad Ibin Majid, who guided Vasco to India. Arab sailors were experts sailors in the Indian Ocean and they knew the routes they were sailing for centuries very well. 

Vasco's second visit in 1502 was more guided by the economies of trade, religion and politics to establish a foothold and monopoly trading rights for his King and country and is marred with events of brutality as he confronted Mohmedians whom he saw again on the Malabar Coast, the very traders and their religion Vasco's country was in war with in Europe. 

After Vasco's return to Portugal in 1503, Francisco De Almeida, established a fruitful contact with the Kochi Kings attaining more than a foothold and trading rights and they increased their influence all around the Indian coast. Almeida was made the first Governor and Viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505.

Vasco Da Gama came again in 1524, on his third visit as Viceroy, but fell sick and died on the Christmas Eve.

The illustrious Mariner was bestowed with Hereditary Royal Pension, Dom status (Lord), the title of Admiral of the Seas of Arabia, Persia, India and all the Orient. After 16 years from his death, Vasco's remains were taken back to Portugal by his son and is enshrined in a fitting mausoleum in Jeronimo Monastery, his country's everlasting tribute to the greatest among the ones who have sailed the seas. 

Reference:
Economic Times, June 20, 2013
http://www.mosteirojeronimos.gov.pt/en/

Our Fort Cochin is a wonderful mixture of interesting narratives. 

Data Quest and PC Quest have been nostalgic technology magazines which we have grown up with when technology was slowly creeping into our lives and the news and information about the developments were not easily available. These magazines in the 90's were great source of information. Who would have thought one day Mr. Shyam & Mrs. Seema Malhothra would take our walk in Fort Cochin. Seen here in the picture is our walkers with Barbara and Zelda, the artists from Italy on a tour around India.

 

It was also a good start for us and our presenter who has just returned from a semester long lecture at a tourism college in Nellore.

Happy New Year, Friends, may we continue to give our best in everything we do.