EDITORIAL
Give Panaji’s heritage buildings a new future by restoring and reopening them
Panaji’s distinct architectural heritage, from pre-colonial structures such as the Adil Shah Palace to Indo-Portuguese mansions, is more than just brick and mortar. They represent the region’s socio-cultural evolution and serve as a tangible connection to the past.
According to the CCP, historical accounts related to Panaji date back to Kadamba King Shasthadeva (1007-1050). An inscription of Kadamba King Vijayaditya I, dated February 7, 1107, refers to Panaji as Pahajani Khali. The name was later changed to Panjim by the Portuguese, and when Old Goa collapsed in the 19th century, Panjim was elevated to the status of a city on March 22, 1843. It was renamed ‘Nova Goa’. Panaji was originally a neglected ward of Taleigao village. After Liberation in 1961, it was officially named Panaji.
Today, several of its public heritage buildings are ailing and need financial support for their restoration and revitalisation. While private owners have tried their best to preserve their ancestral heritage homes, sometimes with much difficulty, there seems to be government apathy toward public buildings. This is exactly what ‘People For Panjim’, a citizen group, petitioned the government about. They said that, currently, more than 20 historically significant buildings in the city are either lying entirely vacant or are in imminent danger of collapsing. The buildings cited by the group include the Fazenda, former Excise office, POCSO court and Lyceum complex. Instead of stepping in to conserve these spaces, the state has largely moved out of the capital’s older buildings, leaving them neglected and exposed to the elements, according to the group. The Accounts Department used to function from the Fazenda building, which was built in the mid-19th century. The building now lies vacant. The group also said that, a decade ago, huge funds were used to renovate the over 500-year-old Adil Shah Palace, which functioned as the seat of power – Secretariat and Assembly hall – until 2000, but it is now crumbling.
While pointing to the government buildings left to either decay or fall into disuse, the group flagged the trend to push for redevelopment. The citizen group also pointed out that redevelopment goes to private parties on a PPP model. They urged that the heritage buildings be restored and put to public use. They also raised concerns over the possible use of public properties for commercial and casino-related activities, and called for protecting Panaji’s heritage character. Why does the government neglect the maintenance of heritage buildings? There may be various factors. It could be due to a combination of short-sighted urban planning, misplaced priorities, political agendas, etc. Restoring old buildings requires specialised architectural expertise, and of course, funding.
This neglect is a loss for tourism. Instead, the upkeep of these buildings must be viewed as an investment for adaptive reuse. Architectural heritage offers a sustainable, high-value alternative: cultural tourism, which could be a big attraction for foreign tourists. Some of our heritage buildings come alive for the Serendipity festival, which attracts creative people, professionals and premium tourists. In European capitals, tourists walk through historic precincts. If Panaji’s heritage buildings are restored, they could elevate Goa’s tourism profile and attract more international tourists. The state must empower heritage committees or consult some other expert groups such as Goa Heritage Action Group to map all endangered structures and formulate a restoration and adaptive reuse plan.
As a way forward, the government must adopt a proactive strategy. If it lacks the funds for maintenance, it can facilitate partnering with heritage institutes. The government must recognise that preserving the past is the best way to enrich the future.
