Daman
boasts of a rich historical heritage spanning
over more than 2000 years. The district of Daman
of the erstwhile Union Territory of Goa, Daman
& Diu is situated in the Surat District of
Gujarat. From 2nd Century A.D., it formed a part
of the country known as Lata, which was one of
the seven divisions of Konkan Vaishaya.
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The
edict of the Emperor Ashoka (273 to 136 B.C) was
found in Saurashtra and Sopara near Bombay. Satrya
Kshatrapas under the Kushana emperor seemed to
have ruled over Daman District during the first
century, A.D. The Coins of Bhumaka and Nahapan,
the kshaharata rulers were discovered in the surrounding
areas of Surat District. Ushavadatta, son-in-law
of Nahapan, is said to have provided ferries on
rivers Dhanuha Dhamana, Parada and Tapi.
This is the earliest reference of these rivers
and the names of the places, i.e. Dahanu, Daman
and Pardi, remained unchanged for the last 2000
years. The District seems to have been subjected
to the rule of Gautamaputra Satakarnin, about
125 A.D., who drove away the Kshaharatas. But
Satavahana's rule was short lived.
Rudraman I, grandson of Chastan of Kadamaka branch
of Kshatrapas reconquered a large part of Western
India including the sea-board from the river Mahi
in Gujarat to Ratnagiri by about 150 A.D. from
Satavahana ruler, Satakarni, and Daman district
again passed under the rule of Kshatrapa Vijayasen
(234-239 A.D.) who seems to have ruled over the
district till 249 A.D. Abhir king Ishwarasena
of Nasik, who conquered the western part of the
Deccan from the Satavahanas seems to have been
laid by Gautamaputra Yajnashri, campaigns the
Kshatrapas from 180 to 200 A.D.
The District seems to have been subjected to the
rule of traikutakas during the 5th century, A.D.
The Lata Country was ruled by Rashtrakutas of
Malkhed in the Deccan directly till 808 A.D. by
the successors, Govinda II (575- 795 A.D), Druvaraja
- I (795-800 A.D) and Govinda III (800 - 808 A.D.).
Govinda III handed over the Lata kingdom to his
brother Indra about. 808 A.D. and was given the
title Lateswaramandalasya or the protector of
Latamandala. Indra was succeeded by his son Karka
who seems to have ruled Latamandala with his brother,
Govinda jointly till A.D. 826. Druva II, son of
Karka came to the throne about 835 A.D. and was
succeeded by Akalavarsha in. 867. A.D. The District
was passed to Tailappa II of the Chalupas of Kalyani
in 973 A.D. Tailappa II placed Lata Country in
the hands of his relative and general Barrpa alias
Dvarappa Chalukya. By the middle of the 13th century,
a Rajput prince Ramsingh alias Ramashah seems
to have defeated the koli chief Nathorat and established
himself in the hilly tract at Asheri of Asserseta
near Daman about 1262 A.D. Ramsingh was succeeded
by his son Somanath in 1295 A.D. The newly founded
Ramnagar at the foot of the ghats flourished under
Somnath (1335-1360 A.D) and Daram shah (1360-1391
A.D.). Jagatshah succeeded Gopushah and ruled
during 1432 A.D. to 1470 A.D. The Portuguese from
Shah of Gujarat acquired Daman. They noticed the
port of Daman for the first time in 1523. A Portuguese
enclave for 4 centuries and a half till the close
of the colonial rule in 1961; Daman has been a
coveted prize for which princes, monarchs and
alien powers waged wars. Muted memories of history
lie vaulted in the monuments of Daman. It had
been a melting pot, where races and cultures met
and mixed to bring forth a multi-coloured identity.
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