The Portuguese Influence on Bengal: A Historical Overview

In the heart of Kolkata, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, also known as the Portuguese Church, stands as a testament to the city’s Portuguese heritage. Despite its origins dating back to 1690, the Portuguese influence on the church’s administration has been minimal. This is also true for other Portuguese churches in the city, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, which severed ties with the Portuguese Mission in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historical Context

The Portuguese were among the first Europeans to arrive in India, venturing into the Indian Ocean in 1488. Vasco da Gama’s arrival in Calicut in 1498 marked the beginning of European maritime trade with Asia. The Portuguese established their maritime empire, Estado da Índia, with its headquarters in Goa. By 1517, Portuguese merchant Joao Coelho reached Bengal, and official fleets from Goa began annual visits to the region.

Portuguese in Bengal

Initially, the Portuguese focused on Chittagong due to its strategic location and connections with China and Southeast Asia. However, by the 1530s, they shifted their focus to Satgaon in the Hooghly district. By the 1540s, the Portuguese crown exited Bengal, leading to an influx of private merchants and bandits into western Bengal. Hooghly became a significant Portuguese colony, primarily populated by traders and settlers.

Mughal-Portuguese Relations

In 1579, Mughal Emperor Akbar granted the Portuguese permission to establish the city of Hooghly, build churches, and propagate Christianity. During this period, Bengal flourished as a major exporter of rice and textiles. However, some Portuguese resorted to piracy and the slave trade, leading to the siege of Hooghly by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632. Although the Portuguese were allowed to return, Hooghly never fully recovered.

Cultural and Linguistic Influence

The Portuguese had a profound impact on Bengali culture and language. They introduced several food items, including chilli peppers, tobacco, tomatoes, papaya, and potatoes. They also brought cheese-making techniques, leading to the creation of famous Bengali sweets like Rasgulla and Sandesh. The Portuguese influence is evident in the Bengali language, with many Portuguese words being integrated into everyday vocabulary.

Decline of Portuguese Influence

The advent of English-medium schools and other cultural shifts with the arrival of the British led to the Anglicisation of the remaining Luso-Indians into Anglo-Indians. By the 18th century, the Portuguese language was replaced by English across the Indian Ocean region. Despite this, the Portuguese left a lasting legacy in Bengal, particularly in the areas of food and language.

Summary

• The Portuguese were among the first Europeans to arrive in India, establishing maritime trade in 1498.
• They initially focused on Chittagong but later shifted to Satgaon and Hooghly in Bengal.
• Mughal Emperor Akbar granted the Portuguese permission to establish Hooghly in 1579.
• The Portuguese introduced several food items and cheese-making techniques to Bengal.
• Their influence is evident in the Bengali language, with many Portuguese words being integrated.
• The arrival of the British led to the decline of Portuguese influence in Bengal.
• Despite their decline, the Portuguese left a lasting legacy in Bengal’s food and language.

For further reading, consider the following sources:

1. History of the Portuguese in Bengal by Joaquim Joseph A. Campos
2. The Portuguese Empire in Asia, 1500-1700: A Political and Economic History by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
3. Improvising Empire: Portuguese Trade and Settlement in the Bay of Bengal, 1500-1700 by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
4. Hooghly: The Global History of a River by Robert Ivermee
5. Bengali Culture Over A Thousand Years by Ghulam Murshid and Sarbari Sinha
6. The Bengalis: A Portrait of a Community by Sudeep Chakravarti
7. Religion, Landscape and Material Culture in Pre-modern South Asia by Nupur Dasgupta and Tilottama Mukherjee