The first settlers of Goa are said to be Mahars who were called ‘marang horo’ meaning that of ‘ the big house’. In Konkani we still say, ‘ to apnnak mhar vhoddlo mhunn somzota (He thinks no end of himself). When did the appellation Mahar become pejorative? Mahar acquired negative status of an out-caste. In Goa, ‘ mahar’ had...
