Directorate Of Archives And Archaeology, Government of Goa, Panaji

About Directorate Of Archives And Archaeology, Government of Goa, Panaji

The Directorate of Archives & Archaeology is the oldest Archives in the country. Established on 25thFebruary, 1595 by the famous Historian Diogo do Couto, also its first Records Keeper, the Archives was named as “Torre do Tombo do Estado da India”. The oldest Portuguese record is of the year 1498. Currently the Goa Archives is designated as Directorate of Archives & Archaeology headed by Smt.Blossom Medeira.

It contains source material relating to the history of European expansion in Asia & Africa especially the rise, fall, and decay of the Portuguese sea-borne empire of India (1510-1961).

In fact, the original nucleus of the present Directorate of Archives, Archives Office at Lisbon in Portugal namely Torre do Tombo de Lisboa, do Tombo do Estado da India established after the name of the principal Archives Office at Lisbon in Portugal namely Torre do Tombo de Lisboa. The Archives came into existence by a strange coincidence. Diogo do Couto landed in Goa with a strong desire to chronicle the history of the Portuguese conquests in the East. He had no source material with him to proceed with his ambitious project. Naturally he wrote to the Viceroy Matias de Albuquerque seeking permission to refer to the relevant papers in the possession of the Viceregal Secretariat. The Viceroy in turn wrote to King D. Filippe who was excited with the news. All this time he had been receiving the reports of historical background of his settlements in the East from his subordinates. He thought that the impartial observation of an historian would serve his purposes better than reading biased accounts from his officers. A new idea struck his mind that just as he had Torre do Tombo de Lisboa, he could establish a similar archives of the East in Goa. He felt that the historian like Diogo do Couto would be an appropriate choice who could be entrusted with this very significant task. Therefore, without sparing any time he issued a royal provision on 25th February 1595 ordering the installation of the archives in Viceregal Palace itself in Goa nominating Diogo do Couto as its Chief Record Keeper ( Guarda Mor ) at the annual pay of 300 pardaus.

Vission
To promote feeling of great pride of Goa's documentary cultural heritage and preservation of it for the posterity.

Mission
Preservation of the documentary heritage of Goa's past for posterity.
Conserve and maintain the cultural heritage of the State.
Encouraging the public for the study of Goa's History of last 1000 years.