Pankaj Tripathi Talks About Goa’s Etymology, How It Came To Be Known As Goa

Gangs of Wasseypur’s Sultan Qureshi, the one and only, actor Pankaj Tripathi joined our Editor-in-Chief, Kamiya Jani, for a memorable episode of Tere Gully Mein. Whether it is a cameo role or a proper character, he always steals the spotlight with his excellent acting skills. And now, has made a name for himself in Bollywood! We caught up with him about his upcoming projects, ate good food and strolled the lovely streets of Fontainhas in Goa. Pankaj Tripathi also highlighted the etymology of ‘Goa’, check it out.

Pankaj Tripathi Explained The Etymology Of Goa

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their historical development. Pankaj loves to read about the history of places or things. It gives him an insight into its evolution and understanding of its heritage. He did his research for this episode’s shoot in Goa, gathered fantastic facts and shared them with us.

Pankaj told us that Goa was earlier named ‘Gomantak’. It is a Sanskrit word which means fertile land. When the Portuguese came and conquered Gomantak, they trimmed the name to Goa. It was more comfortable for them to enunciate a three-letter word, Goa, than the beautiful Sanskrit word, Gomantak. Hence, this is how Goa’s etymology came into existence. 

Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi & Kamiya Jani Enjoy Lunch At THIS Restaurant In Old Goa

He Shared This State’s Freedom Struggle

 

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Continuing on the topic of the Portuguese’s rule over Goa, Pankaj educated us on how this state earned freedom. The Indian Army Forces aided the war and fought for over 36 hours to break the colonisers’ shackles in Goa. The state was free after a long wait of 451 years! This task was code-named ‘Operation Vijay’ which translated to ‘Victory’ in Sanskrit. 

It is interesting to note how the influence of Sanskrit was at a larger scale in Goa. It diminished over time after the Portuguese overturned traditional things of Indian culture. The state still has a strong influence of its past rulers that adds a unique touch.

Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi Shows Kamiya Jani The Oldest Post Office In Goa, Feels Strongly About These Buildings

 To learn more about the talented actor and see the stunning Fontainhas, watch this video.

Cover Image Courtesy: Internal