A Story of Roots and Branches
The Muridakars of Fatorda
How the UK Diaspora Keeps Village Traditions Alive Across a Continent
The Unbreakable Thread
In the heart of South Goa lies Fatorda, a town pulsating with a history as rich as its soil. Woven into its very fabric is the story of the Muridakars—the traditional tenants and caretakers of the land. Their identity is inseparable from the ancestral homes they inhabit and the community customs they uphold. But in an age of global movement, a new chapter is being written, not in the paddy fields of Goa, but in the towns and cities of the United Kingdom.
Thousands of miles from the scent of monsoon rain and the sound of the chapel bell, the Muridakar diaspora thrives. They are the doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs of Swindon, London, and Leicester. Yet, they remain tethered to their village by an unbreakable thread of duty, love, and tradition. This is the story of that thread—a powerful, transatlantic connection that breathes life, funds, and modern relevance into ancient customs, ensuring that the soul of a Goan village is not just preserved, but vibrantly alive.
A Timeline of Land and Legacy
The Muridakar story is a journey through Goan history, shaped by land laws, colonial powers, and the universal dream of a better future. This timeline traces their evolution from tenants on ancestral land to patrons of that very same heritage from afar.
The Mundkar System
Under Portuguese rule, the *Mundkar* (or Muridakar) was a lawful tenant living on land owned by a landlord (*Bhatkar*). They had rights to a dwelling and were integral to the agrarian economy, cultivating the land in a system of mutual, albeit unequal, dependence. Their identity was tied to the land they served.
The Mundkar Act
Following Goa’s liberation, the revolutionary Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975, was passed. This landmark legislation gave mundkars the right to purchase their dwelling houses, fundamentally altering the social structure. It provided security but also marked a shift in the traditional relationship with the land.
The First Wave to the UK
With the new security of homeownership, but limited local economic opportunities, many Goans, including Muridakar families, began migrating. Leveraging Portuguese passports, which granted access to the EU, many sought work in the UK, particularly in towns like Swindon, known for its industrial jobs.
The Digital Bridge
The rise of the internet and affordable international calls transformed the diaspora experience. What was once a connection through letters and rare phone calls became a daily reality. WhatsApp groups for village news and family updates became commonplace, shrinking the distance between Fatorda and London.
Patrons of Heritage
The UK diaspora has evolved from immigrants to established communities. They are now key financial and cultural patrons of Fatorda. Remittances fund everything from the annual feast to family home repairs, and their “summer homecomings” are major social and economic events, reinforcing the unbreakable bond.
The Three Pillars of Connection
The enduring bond between the Muridakars of Fatorda and their UK diaspora is built on three foundational pillars. These pillars not only support the community back home but also give meaning and identity to those living abroad, creating a symbiotic circle of preservation.
Financial Patronage
This is the most tangible connection. Remittances are the lifeblood. They are not just personal funds for family, but communal investments. The UK diaspora collectively contributes to the repainting of the local chapel, the sponsoring of the annual feast’s fireworks, or the funding of educational materials for the village school. It’s a form of social responsibility and a way to maintain status and respect within the home community.
Cultural & Spiritual Duty
Tradition is the soul of the connection. For the diaspora, upholding these traditions is an act of identity. This includes organizing Goan food festivals in the UK, holding Konkani masses, and, most importantly, ensuring the rituals back home continue unabated. They will phone in to listen to the feast day litany or watch a livestream of a local ceremony, participating spiritually even when physically absent. Their support ensures traditions are not just remembered, but practiced.
The Ancestral Home
The family house in Fatorda is the anchor of the Muridakar identity. It is more than a building; it is a repository of memory, a symbol of origin. Maintaining and visiting this home is a sacred duty. It is the destination of the “summer homecoming,” the site of family reunions, and the physical proof of their roots. For the second and third generations born in the UK, this house is their primary link to understanding their Goan heritage.
“We may live in England, but our hearts vote in the village meetings. When the chapel roof needs fixing, the call goes out on WhatsApp, and within a day, the money is there. We left the soil, but the soil never left us.”
Visualizing the Transatlantic Lifeline
The impact of the UK diaspora is not just anecdotal; it can be seen in the flow of resources and the focus of their support. These visualizations illustrate the tangible ways this connection shapes life in Fatorda.
The Complex Reality of Remote Heritage
While the diaspora’s role is overwhelmingly positive, the dynamic is not without its complexities. The relationship is a delicate dance of nostalgia, obligation, and power, creating nuanced social ripples both in Goa and the UK.
Nostalgia and the “Frozen” Village
Diaspora communities often hold a version of their homeland that is frozen in the time they left. Their desire is to preserve the village of their memory, sometimes resisting the natural evolution that residents experience. This can lead to minor friction: the diaspora may fund the restoration of an old landmark, while locals might prefer investment in modern infrastructure like better Wi-Fi. It’s a gentle tension between preserving a museum piece and nurturing a living community. This phenomenon is a common area of study in migration research, as documented by institutions like the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
The Second-Generation Question
For the children and grandchildren of the original Muridakar migrants, born and raised in the UK, the connection is different. It is less about personal memory and more about inherited identity. They may not speak Konkani fluently or understand the intricate social hierarchies of the village. Their engagement is often channeled through more modern means—social media campaigns, online cultural events, or heritage-focused trips to Goa. The challenge for the community is to translate the deep, personal duty of the first generation into a compelling, relevant narrative of identity for the next, ensuring the bridge doesn’t crumble with time.
Shifting Power Dynamics
The influx of diaspora funds inevitably shifts local power dynamics. Financial influence can sometimes translate into social influence. Decisions about community projects might give more weight to the opinions of patrons in the UK than to the residents on the ground. While this is rarely malicious, it’s a structural reality of the patron-client relationship. Navigating this requires constant communication and mutual respect, ensuring that the diaspora’s support empowers rather than dictates. The historical context of Goa’s unique social structures is vital for understanding these dynamics, with archives like JSTOR hosting numerous relevant academic papers.
A Tale of Two Worlds: Benefits and Tensions
This transatlantic relationship is a powerful engine for preservation, but it also creates unique challenges. Here’s a balanced look at the symbiotic, and sometimes strained, connection.
The Benefits
- Cultural Survival: Traditions that might have faded due to lack of local funds are given a new lease on life, ensuring their survival for future generations.
- Economic Infusion: Diaspora money supports local economies, from the masons who repair homes to the vendors at the annual feast.
- Global Identity: It provides a strong sense of identity and community for Goans in the UK, keeping them connected to their roots in a tangible way.
- Knowledge Exchange: The diaspora can bring back new ideas and perspectives, while their children gain invaluable cultural education during homecomings.
The Tensions
- Potential for Dependency: Local communities might become overly reliant on diaspora funds, stifling local initiative and self-sufficiency.
- The “Nostalgia Trap”: The diaspora’s desire to preserve an idealized past can sometimes clash with the present-day needs and aspirations of the residents.
- Generational Fading: The connection is strongest with the first generation. It requires active effort to pass on this sense of duty and belonging to UK-born descendants.
- Inequality of Voice: There’s a risk that those who provide the funding can have a disproportionately loud voice in community decisions.
The Future of the Bridge
The enduring strength of the Muridakar connection will depend on its ability to adapt. As the first generation of migrants ages, the future lies in the hands of their children and the innovative ways they choose to engage with their heritage.
- Digital Heritage Projects: The next generation is uniquely positioned to create digital archives—recording oral histories of elders, mapping ancestral properties with GPS, and creating virtual tours of the village. This translates the ephemeral into the permanent.
- Skills-Based Remittances: The future may see a shift from purely financial support to “skill-based remittances.” A UK-based accountant could offer pro-bono services to the village cooperative; a graphic designer could create promotional materials for a local festival.
- Heritage Tourism: Young, UK-born Goans could lead curated “roots tours” for their peers, offering an authentic experience of village life that goes beyond the beaches. This creates a new, sustainable form of engagement. Goa’s official bodies, like the Goa University, could partner in such initiatives to provide academic and structural support.
The story of the Muridakars of Fatorda is a testament to the fact that you can leave a place, but a place never truly leaves you. It is a modern story of globalization, but one where technology and distance do not dilute culture, but instead become the very tools of its preservation. The bridge between Goa and the UK is not just built of money and memory, but of an enduring love for a small patch of earth called home.
Frequently Asked Questions
The term refers to a person who, with the consent of the landowner (*Bhatkar*), was given a plot of land to build a dwelling. In exchange, the Mundkar would often provide services or labor. The Mundkar Act of 1975 gave these tenants the legal right to purchase their dwelling, securing their place on the land and transforming them into homeowners.
Until 1975, anyone born in Goa before its liberation in 1961 (and their descendants) was eligible for a Portuguese passport. As Portugal is a member of the European Union, this passport granted Goans the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. The UK, with its strong economy and English language, was an attractive and popular destination for many seeking better opportunities.
It’s a fascinating blend of old and new. A feast committee is often formed with members both in Fatorda and the UK. Planning happens via WhatsApp groups and Zoom calls. Funds are collected in the UK through community events or direct bank transfers and then sent to the committee in Goa. On the day of the feast, it’s common for parts of the ceremony or celebration to be live-streamed, allowing the diaspora to participate in real-time.
It’s not necessarily weakening, but it is changing. The first generation’s connection is based on direct memory and personal relationships. For younger, UK-born generations, the connection is more about cultural identity and heritage. They may not know everyone in the village, but they feel a strong sense of pride in their Goan roots. Their engagement is different—more digital, more project-oriented—but can be just as passionate and vital for the long-term preservation of the culture.
Discover more from GoaRoots
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.