Petroglyphs of Khotale

Khotale, a village of Malvan taluka came to light with the discovery of the petroglyphs showcasing the heritage of the hoary past. Since the last quarter century, many lateritic plateaus have been discovered with the petroglyphs from Goa and Konkan region that are displaying the floral and faunal diversity as well as the paleo-climatic condition.

Khotale sharing borders with Poyip, Hevale, Vayangvade villages, has the lateritic plateaus, where quarrying for bricks is in progress.

In this area, the discovery of the petroglyphs has come to light on account of the dedicated efforts of the well-known heritage and history lover Satish Lalit, a retired officer of the government of Maharashtra. His recent publication on the petroglyphs of the Konkan region has already brought to the light the richness of the archaeological heritage.

The petroglyphs have been discovered in many areas of Sindhudurg -Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra and already some of the sites have been included in the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites which has added new feather in the glorious past of the land inherited since ages.

Khotale has the temples and shrines dedicated to Dirbaidevi, Ravalnath, Giroba, Mahapurush, Gangeshwar where various fairs and festivals are held annually and devotees throng in the big numbers. Village once was self -sufficient due to the agricultural and horticultural crops grown here and this helped them to live happily.

However, nowadays, some of the villagers have been involved in the quarrying of bricks along with the cashew and mango plantation. Like people of other areas of the Konkan, villagers of Khotale, were aware about very few petroglyphs that are locally known as the Vetalachi Pavala and of Mahapurush. However, when Satish Lalit along with his wife Dr. Saee visited the site of the petroglyphs, the uniqueness and heritage value of the art came to light.

A majority of the images etched on the rocky, flat hilltops were noticed by Bhago, Shyam Modak, the residents of Dhangarwadi No.2, who have been involved in goat rearing since the last 50 years.

Along with various terrestrial and aquatic animals, abstract patterns, geometrical reliefs, there are also fertility symbols that have been carved on the rock surface, the meaning of which is not known with confirmation.

One petroglyph that is near to Devachi tali, appears to be an image of Lajja Gauri, is indeed unique and in depth study will throw light on the folk religion prevailing in the area. Lack of material culture related with these petroglyphs, has thus far restrained us from arriving at any firm conclusion and also dating it also becomes cumbersome. Presently, these petroglyphs are at a huge risk of being lost or damaged from haphazard activities of laterite brick quarrying going in the vicinity.

There is an urgent need to take necessary steps for providing protection to this newly discovered archaeological heritage site of Khotale.
After reading the news article published in the daily Marathi Herald, along with Pournima Kerkar, Gajanan Shetye, Vitthal Shelke, Sanket Naik and Palavi Naik, visited Khotale on June 2, 2022. After spending more than three hours in the scorching sun on the plateau in the search of the petroglyphs, we relished the tasty vegetarian food served by Bharati Modak.

From Goa to Oras Highway, a road proceed to Hedul via Kasal, takes to Khotale.

Remembering Goa's revolution

Though the Goans revolted against the Portuguese rule on several occasions, the leaders did not achieve success in eliminating the autocratic regime totally. The struggle for liberating Goa from the Portuguese rule, in real sense, began when the movements for India's struggle for freedom had gained momentum. 

The newly educated Goans, irrespective of their caste and religion, had begun to understand how and why the Portuguese were able to rule Goa for a long period. The leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh had influenced the Goans about the Swaraj, Satyagraha and revolutionary ideas. On October 5, 1910, a Republic was proclaimed in Portugal and the barriers that separated Goa politically and socially from the rest of India, were also being reduced. Under the leadership of T. B. Cunha, Goa Congress Committee was established in Bombay, with the objective of fighting for civil liberties for Goans. This committee on March 3, 1946 passed a resolution asking the Portuguese to leave the shores of Goa, Daman and Diu.

The Hindu of Dattatraya Pai, the Bharat of Govind Pundalik Hegde Desai, in the Pracasha, the columns of Luis de Menezes Braganza campaigned vigorously, awakening the Goan masses. However, a strong challenge was put forward by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia by lighting the torch of the freedom movement on June 18, 1946. He openly defied the Portuguese government orders against holding a public meeting at Margao. Before he could deliver his speech he was arrested and forced to leave Goa. However, he instilled a sense of boldness and courage to stand up against the oppressive and unjust rule.

On August 15, 1947, India achieved freedom soon after Indian independence, on November 25, 1947, Salazar, the Prime Minister of Portugal, delivered a speech in the Portuguese National Assembly saying that, 'If geographically Goa is India, it is Europe socially, religiously and culturally.' The Goan leaders by taking inspiration from Ram Manohar Lohia's ideas and deeds continued to struggle for liberating Goa from the yoke of the Portuguese rule. With the liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in July-August 1954, the Satyagraha movements gained momentum under the National Congress Goa in 1954 and again in 1955. The organizations like Azad Gomantak Dal, the Rancour Patriotica, the United Front of Goans, the Goan People's Party, the Goa Liberation Army and others made the Portuguese government more difficult to rule by launching armed struggle.

In the liberation movement, Bala Raya Mapari from Moite, Assonora became the first martyr. After him Balkrishna Bhonsle, Camil Pereira, Suresh Kerkar, Bapu Gawas and many more died for the cause of Goa's Liberation. Alongwith the Goans, from other parts of India, Nityanand Saha, Pannalal Yadav, Karnail Singh Benipal, Sheshnath Wadekar, Hirve Guruji and many more became the victim of the Portuguese wrath.

Total 32 freedom fighters who were youths from various parts of India died in the Satyagraha held at Patradevi and Castle-rock for Goa's liberation. India's independence was completed with the attainment of Goa's Liberation.