The 1612-built and decomissioned Aguada Central Jail in Goa turned into an interactive museum

Goa’s historic jail turns into a museum

There is so much more to Goa than just beaches, shacks and its party scene. With a history so eventful, Goa has many untold stories to tell. And, Aguad Interactive Museum: The Land, The People, and The Struggle is an effort in that direction. The recently-launched museum, which is set in a decommissioned prison, narrates the story of the former Portuguese colony as various blocks — landmarks and their significance, freedom fighters and their struggle, prehistoric findings, and the rich biodiversity of Goa.

“The Aguada Fort and Jail Complex is one of Goa’s most recognisable landmarks. It has been around for over 400 years. The jail complex moved to a new location in 2015-2016, and the erstwhile one has almost been reinvented as a repository of Goa’s history. This is important because while we have grown up with a good understanding of British history, Portuguese history is something that most only have peripheral knowledge of.

“The Museum showcases the history of the jail, of Goa from well before the Portuguese, the liberation movement that culminated in 1961, to today’s Goa,” says Naveen Chopra, group CEO, Waterfront Experiences, which is responsible for managing Aguad.

Commissioned by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and designed and conceptualised by Oorja Interactive and Delta Technologies, the Aguad Interactive Museum, uses technology as a tool for storytelling. The narrative unfolds through 3D interactive maps, innovative Story Vending Machines, holographic installations and gamified time machines. There are 35 kiosks across three rooms.

The first, Goa — The Land, allows visitors to see famous sites and gives them the chance to use the “Discover Goa” console to learn about lesser-known facts about the city. Short story excerpts are dispensed by the inventive Story Vending Machine.

The second room, Goa — The Struggle, consists of the gamified Time Machine that provides visitors insights into historical dates with a simple pull of a lever. The interactive Freedom Fighters Wall enables visitors to connect with the stories of freedom fighters, while the ‘Message In A Bottle’ exhibit allows visitors to know in-depth the thoughts of the freedom fighters.

Vinayak Nayak, CEO, Delta Technologies, who has curated the show says, “There is an entire wall dedicated to freedom fighters such as T.B. Cunha and Libia Lobo. And on the opposite side, we have all the details of Operation Vijay — the “armed action” involving air, sea and land strikes to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule. Visitors can also pay tribute by pressing a button — flowers will fall at the feet of the freedom fighters. People spend time here to read what everyone here has done for the freedom struggle.”