Velim (English: /veɪliːm/ (listen), (Konkani: Velle), formerly Velliapura,[5] is a large village situated in Salcete, neighbouring Quepem taluka and falls under South Goa district, in the Indian coastal state of Goa. It has access to the Arabian Sea via the Sal river that flows through it and shares its borders with neighbouring villages/cities of Assolna, Ambelim and Cuncolim. The village consists of 22 hamlets or subdivisions that have been put together into 9 wards.[6] As of 2020, the village has a total population of about 8600 residents residing in 2568 households.[7] It is also a part of Velim Assembly constituency.

Velim Velle (Konkani) Velliapura
Village
From top, left to right: Aerial view from Baradi chapel, Velim Photograph of residential houses Holy Cross Chapel, Baradi Miraculous Cross, Baradi Cutbona Jetty St. Francis Xavier High School St. Francis Xavier Church Betul Mobor beach view
Nickname:  Sleepy fishing village
Velim Location in Goa Show map of Goa Velim Location in India Show map of India
Coordinates: 15.1644°N 73.9759°E / 15.1644; 73.9759[1]
Country	India
State	Goa
District	South Goa
Sub-district	Salcete
Government
• Type	Zilla Panchayat Gram Panchayat
• Body	Zilla Parishad Village Panchayat
• Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly	Cruz Silva (AAP)
• Member of the Zilla Panchayat	Juliao Fernandes[2] (INC)
• Sarpanch	Veena Cardozo[3]
• Deputy Sarpanch	Anthony Rebello[4]
Area
• Total	8.14 km2 (3.14 sq mi)
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,600
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Demonym	Velicar/Velimcar
Languages
• Official	Konkani English
• Additional/Cultural	Romi Konkani Portuguese
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	403723
Telephone code	0832
Vehicle registration	GA
Website	vpvelim.in

Etymology

The word "Velim" derives from two words, "Vell" which translates to "shore" and "halli" which means "village", put together to form Velim, also known as village with a seashore.

Geography

Velim is located at 15°9′52″N 73°58′33″E. It has an average elevation of 9 m (30 ft).[1]

Demographics

The village had a population of 5,955 residents of which 2,805 were males and 3,150 are females, making up to 1,536 families as per the Population Census 2011. The population is predominantly Roman catholics, with a small number of Hindus and Muslims. The people of Velim often refer to themselves as Vellikar or Velimcar.[8]

History

Early history

World renowned historian, George M. Moraes wrote about the Velliapura (present-day Velim) family, in his book "Kadamba Kula, A History of Ancient and Mediaeval Karnataka".[9] Jayakesi, the son of Shashtha-Deva, was a very powerful ruler[10][11] mentioned in a stone inscription of Kadamba King Jayakesi I, dated 1054 CE as Panajnakhani (present-day Panaji),[12] giving him the epithet of Padavalendra which is Kannada for lord of the western ocean.

Twelfth century copper carvings reveal that princes and lords from neighbouring kingdoms traveled to Chandrapura (present-day Chandor), to pay homage to Kadamba Jayakesi, who was the sovereign of Konkan. "Velliapura Viragal " at 'Xavierian Research Centre tell that Jayakesi himself was in a battle with his rival to retain this place Velliapura won a decisive victory, which was his southern capital.

According to their resource after the 1266/1345, 16 October massacre the surviving Queen, Vinomaih devi, moved away from the furious Mohammedans in Chandrapura, and was taken into hiding in the Velliapura royal compound by the foothills of Velim. The inscription stones in Kannada found at Velim site tell that Suriya-Deva 1345CE slain-ed sovereign of Chandrapura, his Queen Vinomaih-devi died and was cremated in Velliapura by her nephew Jayeshi, son of ShankaraDeva, grandson of Purandara Deva.[13][14]

Portuguese period

According to a local legend, St. Francis Xavier visited the village before moving to Old Goa in the 1500s during the Portuguese India era for his missionary work and converted many locals into Christians. It is said^{[by whom?]} that Francis Xavier landed at the port of Cabo de Rama during the time and reached Velim, a village that was 14 km (8.7 mi) away.^{[citation needed]} His missionary work was however looked down upon by the local blacksmiths who later drove him away.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]} As of today,^{[clarification needed]} Francis Xavier is the patron saint of the Velim parish.

Village subdivisions/wards

The village wards include, Naik-Caiero, Silvas and Ubdando, Mascarenhas/Goleaband, Cumbeabhat/Paxel, Gorcomorod/Gorka-Moroda, Caroi, Sibrete, Tollecanto, Baradi/Bapsoro, Muxer , Pocklivoll/Khoroit, Rangalim/Zuem, Carxeta, Cutbona, Zaino/Olli-Zaino/Fondop.

This section needs expansion with: summary section defining the wards and clarifying which subdivisions are part of which wards. Lead states 9 wards and 22 subdivisions, but it is not clear from this section how they are grouped. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

Government and politics

Velim is part of Velim Assembly constituency and South Goa Lok Sabha constituency.

Sports

The village has a playground located opposite to the St. Francis Xavier Church. It also has a sports complex, constructed by then Velim constituency MLA, Benjamin Silva, situated in Tollecanto, known as the Velim sports complex that shut it's construction since 2017.[15]

On 26 March 2022, The Director of Sports Authority of Goa, Vandana Rao assured to take appropriate actions on the ambitious project.[15] The initiative was led by the current MLA of Velim constituency, Cruz Silva who sent letters to the SAG director and other sports officials to direct the examination of the project, further ensuring that the infrastructure is put to use for the benefit of the local youth. He also suggested a possibility of having the sports complex host the FIFA U-17 Girls World cup.[15]

The inspection revealed that the infrastructure was ready in all aspects with only the football ground pitches that were left incomplete. The director promised to place the proposal of the sports complex as a venue to host the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Fr. Allan Travasso, the priest in charge of St. Rock Church, Tollecanto, stated that the director was thrilled to notice the sports complex with so many facilities and infrastructure. He also appreciated the work done by Benjamin Silva towards the sports complex and further stated that the complex should also become a community centre.[15]

Notable people

• Antonio Piedade da Cruz, 20th-century painter and sculptor
• Ben Antao, writer, journalist, teacher, writer and certified financial planner
• Bonfilio D'Cruz, former director of education, government of Goa
• Braz Pinto, village chronicler
• Coly Col de Velim (Colin Crasto) Konkani tiatr director[16]
• Comedian Selvy (Matheus Correia; 1974 –2022), Konkani comedian, actor, singer, playwright, director and producer
• Debbie Fernandes, village chronicler
• Dr. Antonio Xavier D'silva, medical practitioner
• Dr. Sebastiao Mazarelo, first MLA of Cuncolim Assembly constituency and medical practitioner
• Dr. Shivram Usgaonkar, medical practitioner
• Francis Braz, social activist and former president of AVC Lions Club[17]
• Fr. Nevel Gracias (1964 – 2022), popular tiatrist known for lenten tiatrs.[18]
• Jose Mario Vaz, former headmaster of St. Xaviers High School.
• Larita Fernandes, former deputy sarpanch[19]
• Leander Paes, retired Indian professional Tennis player and politician
• Luis Mendes, freedom fighter and Goan nationalist
• Melvyn Sanches, former sarpanch[20]
• Roque Santana Fernandes, freedom fighter and former MLA of Cuncolim Assembly constituency[21]
• Savio D'silva, South Goa Indian National Congress district president, former president of Cutbona Boat Owners Association and former sarpanch[22]
• Savio Rodrigues, writer, journalist, environmentalist and politician
• Sushila Sawant Mendes, associate history professor at Goa Government College of Arts, Science, Quepem
• Vinay Tari, president of Cutbona Fisheries Co-operative Society[23]
• Vece Paes, retired Indian field hockey player[24]
• Wilson Benigno Duarte Mazarello, former footballer and medical practitioner[25]

See also

• List of constituencies of the Goa Legislative Assembly

References

Citations

• C. Chandramouli (2015) [2010–11], "Salcete Taluka — South Goa", Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Government of India, Census Organization of India
• C. Chandramouli (2015) [2010–11], "South Goa District : Census 2011 data", Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Government of India, Census Organization of India

External links

• Velim Association (Mumbai)
• Parish Youth of Velim
• St. Francis Xavier Church, Velim