The Goa Inquisition, which began in 1560, targeted local Hindus, Muslims, and New Christians in Portuguese India, enforcing Catholic orthodoxy through trials and forced conversions. This brutal campaign led to widespread persecution, including executions and the destruction of cultural practices. The Inquisition's impact on the religious landscape of Goa was profound, as it sought to eradicate non-Christian beliefs and assert Portuguese colonial power in the region.

The Goa Inquisition targeting Hindus and Muslims starting in 1560 inspired resistance narratives in Indian literature. Poets began to reflect on cultural and religious tensions under colonial rule, creating syncretic poetry that expressed the complexities of identity and faith.