Anatomy of a Goan Home

- Dr. Kuheli Bhattacharya

THERE is something very regal and yet whimsical about a Goan home, very European in its look, and yet very Indian, with the use of Mangalorean tiles on its sloping roofs. It is one of the most startling features in a Goan Landscape, especially for someone who hasn’t grown up seeing Goan homes. Right at the outset is my disclaimer that I write this article not because I have an in depth knowledge of the ancient histories and workings of a Goan home, but because of an inherent fascination for them.

The signboards: a beautiful signboard consisting of a few tiles put together, and painted in the traditional blue states heralds the entrance of the house. It could simply read “Menezes” or be a more elaborate “Casa de Menezes” meaning home of the menezes, or could even have a quote or an elaborate saying, like “Me casa su casa”. These signboards are called Azulejos, which are traditional Portuguese tin – glazed tile paintings. They are not restricted to signboards or homes, and tile paintings can be elaborate enough to decorate entire walls or facades, can be present within a building or on the exterior, and can depict elaborate historical events and the art can be dated according to the centuries it belonged to dating back to the 13th century.