लेखक: Charles J. Borges

Joaquim Heliodoroda Cunha Rivara was born at Arraiolos (Portugal) on 23 June 1809. He studied Latin, Greek, English, French and German as a youth, took a degree in medicine at Coimbra and in 1836 was at Evora to practise. But the following year he entered the administrative service of the district and was appointed chief secretary. A year later he was appointed librarian at the Public Library at Evora and soon came to be known for his remarkable familiarity with documents and for his efficiency. His interest in journalism led him in 1841 to collaborate with the Rcvista Universal. In 1855 he was sent to the overseas province of Goa and on 1 November of that year appointed chief secretary of the Stale. His wide interests led him to write much in defence of the Portuguese Padroado, and to publish among other things Bolelim do Governo. O Oriente Portugnes, Ensaio Historico da Lingua Concani, and Dicionario Portugues Concani. As travel writer himself, he translated the work of Francois Pyrord de Laval, and edited Cronista de Tissuari. He remained in Goa till 1877 lo write a history of India and returned to Portugal where he passed away on 20 February 1879. Fr. Charles J. Borges has been wilh the Xavier Centre of Historical Research (Goa) since 1981 and is presently its Director. He holds a doctorate in history from the University of Bombay. He has written The Economics of the Goa Jesuits 1542-1759 (New Delhi: Concept) and is co-editor of Jesuits in India: In Historical Perspective (Macau. 1992, and Proceedings of the Seventh International Seminar on Indo-Portuguese History (Lisbon: Mare Liberum. no. 9. July 1995). He contributes regularly to national and international journals and seminars.