Goa, Oct. 30 -- Baltazar da Silva Castro's heritage restoration campaign in 1950s Goa marked a pivotal moment in colonial conservation, transforming the appearance of key monuments, particularly those in Old Goa, and igniting a long-standing debate over authenticity versus ideology in heritage preservation. Guided by the Portuguese regime's ambition to highlight the antiquity and distinctiveness of its colonial legacy, Castro's interventions led to the deplastering of several historic structures, including the Chapel of Saint Catherine, with consequences that remain evident to this day.

The initiative took shape as Goa prepared to commemorate the 400th death anniversary of Saint Francis Xavier, a significant Catholic event leveraged by t...