Overview

 Author: Asif Currimbhoy (1928–1994), a pioneering Indian playwright, was one of the
few to write exclusively in English, producing over 30 plays across various genres. Born
in Mumbai to a Khoja Muslim family, his father was an industrialist, and his mother a
social worker. Educated at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and the University of
Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Currimbhoy developed a mastery of English and a love for
Shakespearean drama, which profoundly influenced his experimental theatrical style,
incorporating monologues, choruses, chants, songs, mime, slide projections, and filmed
footage. After working briefly for Burmah-Shell, he pursued playwriting full-time,
earning recognition as “India’s first authentic voice in theatre” for his engagement with
modern themes like race, class, and gender in a postcolonial context.
 Publication: Goa was written in 1965 and published as part of The Complete Plays of
Asif Currimbhoy, Volume 1 by Writers Workshop in 1970. It premiered at Michigan State
University and was later staged on Broadway in 1968, marking its international
significance.
 Setting: The play is set in Goa during the final years of Portuguese colonial rule (1510–
1961), culminating in India’s military liberation in December 1961. Key locations
include a patio, taverna, and balcony, capturing Goa’s unique cultural blend of
Portuguese and Indian influences.
 Narrative Style: A dialogue-heavy political drama, Goa employs allegory, imagery, and
subtle techniques like implication, indirection, and innuendo to convey its narrative. The
play uses minimal action, relying on character interactions to evoke emotions and reflect
historical events.
 Genre: Political drama, postcolonial theatre, Indian English drama.
 Significance: Goa is a landmark in Indian English literature for its nuanced portrayal of
the Goan liberation struggle, addressing postcolonial themes of identity, racism, and
exploitation. Its international productions and critical acclaim underscore its importance
in modern Indian theatre, though some critics note its dialogue-driven structure limits
stage action.

Detailed Plot Summary

While a comprehensive plot summary is not fully detailed in available sources, Goa is a political
drama that allegorically depicts the socio-political tensions surrounding Goa’s transition from
Portuguese rule to Indian control in 1961. The narrative unfolds through intense dialogue,
weaving personal relationships with historical events to reflect the broader struggle for Goan
identity.

 Context and Setting: The play is set in Goa during the late 1950s to 1961, under
Portuguese colonial rule, which lasted over 400 years. The Indian government’s military
intervention in December 1961, known as Operation Vijay, ended Portuguese control,
integrating Goa into India. Currimbhoy portrays Goa as an “innocent flower” exploited
by both colonial and liberating forces, highlighting the human cost of political ambitions.
  Central Allegory: Goa is personified as a vulnerable entity, “raped” for personal and
political gains by Portuguese colonizers and Indian nationalists. This metaphor frames the
narrative, emphasizing exploitation and loss of innocence.
 Character Dynamics: The play likely centers on interactions among Portuguese
colonizers, Indian nationalists, and Goan locals, though specific character names are not
consistently detailed in sources. The dialogue-driven narrative suggests key figures
representing different factions, with personal relationships mirroring broader conflicts.
For instance, love stories involving cross-cultural pairings (e.g., Portuguese-Goan or
Indian-Goan) parallel the political invasion, symbolizing cultural clashes and alliances.
 Narrative Progression: The play opens with scenes depicting Portuguese dominance,
possibly showcasing cultural suppression or racial prejudice. As Indian nationalist
sentiments rise, tensions escalate, leading to the climactic invasion. The aftermath
explores the consequences for Goa’s identity, with Currimbhoy maintaining an impartial
stance, critiquing both colonial oppression and the aggressive nature of liberation.
 Resolution: The play concludes with a reflection on Goa’s mangled state, neither fully
Portuguese nor wholly Indian, underscoring the complexity of postcolonial identity. The
love stories likely resolve in ways that echo this ambiguity, highlighting personal and
collective losses.

Major Themes
1. Colonialism and Liberation:
o Goa examines the impact of Portuguese colonialism, which imposed cultural and
economic control for over four centuries. The Indian liberation, while a triumph,
is portrayed as a violent “rape” that further damages Goa’s innocence, suggesting
that liberation can mirror colonial exploitation if driven by self-interest.
2. Identity and Goan Struggle:
o The play centers on the quest for Goan identity, caught between Portuguese and
Indian influences. Goa’s unique cultural blend—Portuguese architecture, Catholic
traditions, and Indian roots—is depicted as both a strength and a source of
conflict, reflecting postcolonial identity crises.
3. Racial and Cultural Prejudice:
o Themes of race, class, and gender are prominent, with the play addressing color
prejudice and social hierarchies under colonial rule. Currimbhoy critiques
discriminatory attitudes, as explored in Academia.edu: Representations of Racism
in Goa.
4. Love, Sex, and Politics:
o Personal relationships are interwoven with political events, creating a symbiotic
narrative where love stories mirror the invasion of Goa. These relationships
symbolize cultural interactions, as discussed in Journal of Teaching and Research
in English Literature.
5. Exploitation and Innocence:
o The allegory of Goa as an “innocent flower” underscores the theme of
exploitation by external forces, highlighting the human and cultural toll of
political ambitions, as noted in IERJ: Struggle for Goan Identity.
Key Characters
While specific character details are limited in the sources, the play’s allegorical nature suggests
archetypal figures representing different groups:

Character
Description Role in Narrative
Type
Likely a figure of authority, Represents the oppressive Portuguese
Portuguese
embodying colonial power and regime, exploiting Goa’s resources and
Colonizer
prejudice. culture.
Indian A character advocating for liberation, Symbolizes India’s drive to reclaim Goa,
Nationalist possibly idealistic but aggressive. critiqued for its violent approach.
A native caught between colonial and
Embodies Goa’s innocence and struggle,
Goan Local national forces, facing identity
central to the play’s allegory.
conflicts.
Cross-Cultural Involved in a relationship across Mirrors the broader cultural and political
Lover cultural lines (e.g., Portuguese-Goan). interactions, adding personal depth.

Narrative Style and Techniques

 Dialogue-Driven Narrative: Goa relies heavily on dialogue to convey emotions and
advance the plot, with minimal physical action. This approach, noted in Surjeet
Publications, allows characters’ interactions to evoke the audience’s emotional response.
 Allegory and Imagery: The central metaphor of Goa as an “innocent flower” is a
powerful allegory, reinforced by vivid imagery of violation and cultural loss, as per IERJ:
Struggle for Goan Identity.
 Subtlety and Innuendo: Currimbhoy uses implication, indirection, and innuendo to
present themes, avoiding direct statements, which adds layers of meaning, as discussed in
Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature.
 Stage Design: The play incorporates specific stage spaces like a patio, taverna, and
balcony, capturing Goa’s cultural essence, as noted in Academia.edu: Text and
Performance.
 Experimental Elements: Influenced by American experimental theatre, Currimbhoy
employs stylistic improvisations, allusions, and associations, enhancing the play’s
theatrical impact.

Historical and Cultural Context

 Goa’s Colonial History: Goa was under Portuguese rule from 1510 to 1961, longer than
British rule in India, creating a unique cultural identity blending Portuguese and Indian
elements. The 1961 Indian invasion, Operation Vijay, ended colonial rule but sparked
debates about Goan autonomy and identity.
 Postcolonial India: Written in 1965, Goa reflects India’s post-independence grappling
with regional identities and the legacy of colonialism. Currimbhoy’s impartial stance
 critiques both colonial oppression and nationalistic aggression, aligning with postcolonial
discourse.
 Indian English Drama: As one of the few Indian playwrights writing in English,
Currimbhoy bridged Indian themes with Western dramatic forms, contributing to the
development of modern Indian theatre alongside figures like Girish Karnad and Vijay
Tendulkar.
 Global Influence: Currimbhoy’s exposure to American theatre and Shakespearean drama
informed his experimental style, making Goa accessible to international audiences, as
evidenced by its Michigan and Broadway productions.

Critical Analysis
1. Postcolonial Perspective:
o Goa critiques the dual exploitation of colonialism and nationalism, presenting a
balanced view that avoids moralizing. Its allegory of Goa as a violated entity
highlights the human cost of political transitions, as per IERJ: Struggle for Goan
Identity.
2. Racial and Social Critique:
o The play’s focus on racial prejudice, as explored in Academia.edu:
Representations of Racism in Goa, addresses color-based discrimination and
social hierarchies, relevant to postcolonial identity struggles.
3. Interplay of Personal and Political:
o The symbiotic relationship between love stories and political events, as discussed
in Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, showcases
Currimbhoy’s skill in blending personal and collective narratives.
4. Artistic Strengths and Weaknesses:
o Strengths include its allegorical depth, nuanced perspective, and dialogue-driven
emotional impact. Weaknesses, noted in Surjeet Publications, include limited
physical action, which may reduce stage dynamism.
5. Comparison with Other Works:
o Compared to Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq, which uses historical allegory to critique
leadership, Goa focuses on regional identity and colonialism, with a more
personal lens. Unlike Vijay Tendulkar’s Ghashiram Kotwal, which employs
satire, Goa is subtler, relying on innuendo.
6. Theatrical Impact:
o The play’s stageability, with specific settings like a taverna, enhances its cultural
authenticity, as per Academia.edu: Text and Performance. Its international
productions highlight its global appeal.

Scene-by-Scene Breakdown
Due to the lack of a full text, a precise scene breakdown is unavailable, but the play’s structure
can be inferred:

Segment Key Events Significance

 Introduction of Portuguese rule, possibly Sets the colonial context and
Opening
showing cultural suppression or prejudice. establishes Goa’s vulnerability.
Rising Emergence of Indian nationalist sentiments, Highlights the clash of identities
Tension with cross-cultural relationships developing. and foreshadows conflict.
Indian invasion (Operation Vijay), depicted as a Represents the peak of
Climax
violent disruption. exploitation, critiquing both sides.
Reflection on Goa’s altered identity, with love Underscores the lasting impact on
Resolution
stories resolving ambiguously. Goa’s cultural landscape.

Important Quotes
 “Goa, the innocent flower, raped for personal gains by both the Portuguese and the
Indians.” – Reflects the central allegory of exploitation, from IERJ: Struggle for Goan
Identity.
 “The love stories run parallel to the story of Goa, mingling symbiotically.” – Highlights
the interplay of personal and political, from Journal of Teaching and Research in English
Literature.
 “The play recaptures the essence of the unique culture of Goa.” – Emphasizes cultural
authenticity, from Academia.edu: Text and Performance.

Study Questions
1. How does Currimbhoy use allegory to depict Goa’s struggle for identity in Goa?
2. Analyze the role of love stories in mirroring the political invasion of Goa.
3. Discuss the play’s critique of both Portuguese colonialism and Indian nationalism.
4. How does Currimbhoy’s dialogue-driven style enhance or limit the play’s impact?
5. Examine the symbolism of Goa as an “innocent flower” and its implications.
6. Compare Goa with another postcolonial Indian play, such as Karnad’s Tughlaq.
7. How does the play address racial prejudice, and what relevance does this have today?
8. What makes Goa a landmark in Indian English drama, and how does its international
appeal contribute to its significance?

Further Reading and Resources

 Books:
o Currimbhoy, Asif. Goa (The Complete Plays of Asif Currimbhoy, Volume 1).
Writers Workshop, 1970.
o Agrawal, K.A. A Critical Study of the Plays of Asif Currimbhoy. Book Enclave,
2007.
o Gilbert, Helen, and Joanne Tompkins. Post-Colonial Drama: Theory, Practice,
Politics. Routledge, 1996.
 Websites:
o Goodreads: Goa by Asif Currimbhoy – Reader reviews and basic information.
o Surjeet Publications: Goa – Overview of the play’s style.
 o Amazon: Goa by Asif Currimbhoy – Publication details.
 Critical Essays:
o Patel, Shweta. “Asif Currimbhoy’s Goa and the Struggle for Goan Identity.”
International Education and Research Journal, 2019.
o Paul, Satya. “Interplay of Love, Sex, and Politics in Asif Currimbhoy’s Play
Goa.” Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, 2021.
o Aayalakandy, Yoosaph. “An Instance of the Representations of Racism in Asif
Currimbhoy’s Goa.” Academia.edu, 2013.

Conclusion
Goa by Asif Currimbhoy is a seminal work in Indian English drama, offering a nuanced
exploration of Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule through allegory, dialogue, and cultural
critique. Its portrayal of Goa as an “innocent flower” exploited by both colonial and national
forces captures the complexities of postcolonial identity, while its love stories add a personal
dimension to the political narrative. Despite its dialogue-heavy structure, the play’s thematic
depth, stylistic subtlety, and international recognition make it a landmark in Indian theatre,
continuing to resonate with audiences and scholars for its universal themes and historical insight.

Key Citations
 Goa by Asif Currimbhoy on Goodreads
 Asif Currimbhoy’s Goa and the Struggle for Goan Identity
 Goa Political Play Overview by Surjeet Publications
 Representations of Racism in Asif Currimbhoy’s Goa
 Interplay of Love, Sex, and Politics in Goa
 Text and Performance in Asif Currimbhoy’s Goa
 Goa by Asif Currimbhoy on Amazon