Shifting to the Jesuit-Founded Press in Goa and its Origin

  Portuguese settlers were responsible for the expansion and the creation of the city’s printing press, so it seemed unlikely that the initial technology from China ever made its way down to Goa. Yet, the creation of paper had reached India before the Portuguese in the sixteenth century through the Turks. Note that the Turks did not present any form of printing, only the invention of paper itself. Still, even paper had a hard time catching on. Stacked piles of leaves forming books called “Writing Palms” was the traditional and more sacred method (Suarez, Woudhuysen 554). The printing press in Goa would add a dimension, but not fully eradicate “writing palms” until centuries after it was first introduced to the region.

    In 1556, we arrive at the introduction of the Portuguese Jesuits to India. A group of missionaries was sent by King João III to occupy Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) and to bring with them a printing press. Their ship first stopped in Goa, and when they got there, word had made its way from the King that they were to actually settle there instead (Suarez, Woudhuysen 555). The Patriarch eventually began preparations to finally occupy Abyssinia later on. However, his death in 1562 made it so the press had its permanent home in Goa (Naik). The Portuguese already had colonists in the area, but the printing press was new and unexpected for the region.

    There was a man who came with the missionaries named Juan de Bustamante, and he had the skills required to operate the press (Suarez, Woudhuysen 555). De Bustamante was born in Valencia, Spain, roughly around 1536. He joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained in 1564 (Naik).