Tradition, Colonialism and Modernity: Women’s Health in Goa, India

Abstract

This article documents practices related to pregnancy and childbirth among the Gauda tribal community in Goa, a south-western state of India. The Portuguese colonizer introduced a ’scientific credo’ in every sphere of life, including health, for reasons of ideological supremacy, moral justification, and social legitimacy. There was a well-orchestrated effort on the part of the Portuguese to phase out the traditional system of healing in order to replace it with a western system. However, traditional beliefs and health-related practices persist, albeit often in ’modified’ forms. Two possible reasons are forwarded for this persistence: first, traditional beliefs and practices are indicative of their role in identity formation for this community; and second, traditional health and healing are practised by w1omen