Country India District North Goa Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Population 21,000 (2011) | State Goa Sub-district/Taluka Santa Cruz PIN 403005 Area code 0832 | |
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Santa Cruz is one of the original Goa Assembly Constituency seat, in the Tiswadi Taluka, of North Goa District, in the State of Goa. The other constituencies in Tiswadi (Tis means thirty in Konkani & Wadi means settlements in Konkani) are Panaji and Taleigao
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Santa Cruz (Santa is a Portuguese word and means Povitr" in Konkani or "Holy" in English, while Cruz is a Portuguese word and means Khuris" in Konkani or "Cross" in English).
Santa Cruz is on the Ilha(s) (Ilha(s) is a Portuguese word and means Island(s)). The other islands being Chorão Island, Divar Island, St. Estevam Island as well as Vaxim Island. The Portuguese conquered theses lands as part of Velha Conquista and used it for spice trade principally and simultaneously for spiritual purposes this resulted in the establishment of Catholic faith in Goa. In 1547, the Portuguese missionaries established the Santa Cruz Catholic Church. Hence, this constituency has been named as Santa Cruz constituency. Locally it is referred as "Santa Cruz Igroj" or "Santa Cruz Church." Although the Santa Cruz Catholic church in English, is often referred to as Holy Cross Catholic Church, the local citizens do not mention it as Povitr Khuris Katolic Sobhek. Interestingly, a landmark in Calapor/Santa Cruz is called and Almacho Khuris (Almacho in Konkani means Soul). This monument was built to commemorate the passing away of a patriotic Calaporkar.
First Assembly Legislature Representative
Joao Hugo Eduardo de Sequeira (20 April 1915 – 17 October 1989), popularly known as Dr. Jack de Sequeira; also known as Jak Siker according to local naming conventions, was a prominent Goan politician and is popularly known in Goa as the Father of the Opinion Poll. The father of the Opinion Poll laid the foundation for Goa's Statehood. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the Department of Posts released a special cover on Dr Jack de Sequeira on the occasion of Goa Statehood Day (May 30, 2015). Speaking about Dr Sequeira, the Chief Minister said, “Sequeira fought to keep Goa as a separate entity with a unique identity.” Parsekar further went on to say, “He brought in referendum to determine whether Goa should be merged with Maharashtra or not. It is only because of him that Goa got statehood on May 30, 1987.