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Demolition threatens 400-year-old chapel in India

Local Catholics say the administration plans to raze the chapel to expand a football stadium
The chapel of Our Lady Of Remedies in Daman in western India faces the threat of demolition

The chapel of Our Lady Of Remedies in Daman in western India faces the threat of demolition. (Photo: pontofinal-macau.com)

Published: February 10, 2023 11:45 AM GMT
Updated: February 13, 2023 08:07 AM GMT

A four-century-old chapel in western India dating back to the Portuguese colonial era faces a threat of demolition as the administration aims to acquire land to turn it into a football stadium, local Catholics say.

Catholic leaders say the chapel of Our Lady Of Remedies in Daman faces threat due to a controversial beautification drive planned by Praful Patel, the administrator and a leader of the pro-Hindu Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

Daman and Diu is a federally ruled territory that comes directly under the administrative control of the BJP-led government in New Delhi.   

Territory's administrator Patel neither confirmed nor denied the move to demolish the chapel to expand the football field.

“No, I have no idea, you ask the local authorities,” he told UCA News.

But local Catholics said the administration was firm about the demolition plan. 

"They want to acquire the chapel's land....once they acquire the land, they can do whatever they want. And they want to expand the football field which means they want to flatten the chapel. We fully understand their intention. We are not fools," Rui Pereira, a local Catholic leader said.

Pereira along with a group of Catholic leaders recently met Daman Municipal Council president Sonal Patel to express their concerns.

The chapel was built in 1607 when Daman was a Portuguese colony, published records show. 

Portuguese colonialism ended in Daman and Diu in 1961 but the chapel continues to be a place of worship for local Catholics.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has not declared it a heritage structure, "despite its architectural antiquity and unique wood carving, which should be preserved," said Pereira.

The fact that ASI has not categorized it as a heritage structure might embolden authorities to raze it to the ground, Pereira said.

“But this should not be done. We are with the Christian community," said council president Sonal Patel.

Pramod Rana, an independent member of the council, also echoes the president’s sentiments, voicing support for the catholic community.

“We adopted a resolution stating that local Catholics should be taken into confidence before carrying out any activity, or any decision that might impact them. We cannot allow the chapel to be bulldozed just like that,” he said.

Father Brian Rodrigues, who provides religious services at the chapel said they “are preparing to take the case to the High Court in Bombay,” said a report in pontofinal-macau.com, a Portuguese publication based in Macao.

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4 Comments on this Story
T IMGOLDEN
Praful Patel, of the pro-Hindu Bhartiya Janata Party, may demolish a 400-year-old Christian chapel in Daman to build a soccer stadium p.s. Dear NY FBI, is Praful Patel pro-Christ or anti-Christ? p.p.s. God knows who're complicit and who're complacent
CHHOTEBHAI
Surely an amicable solution can be found bearing in mind the antiquity and uniqueness of the chapel.
SHARAD PANT
Why are you making hue and cry of such pity things? If you will visit the old heritage temples in South India and north indian sites which is around one thousand years old are ignored and in dilapidation condition. It's irony that there is Christian, Muslim media but no Hindu media which can adress the issue or publisize the facts about Hindus great heritage.
RAMYA
Its truly sad what this nation has become.The chapel is so cute and such ancient structures need to be preserved. The old warm Goa has diminshed after covid. Great realtors have taken over the land and turning it into another dungeon. Goa as we knew it will be gone for ever. This is why States like Tamilnadu are vigilant over Bjp rules of confiscating lands and giving our lands into hands of mafia tycoon who have no respect for the ecology of the place.
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