Prajal Sakhardande

Prajal Sakhardande (born 18 April 1969) is an Indian historian, heritage activist, and academic known for his work in preserving the history and cultural identity of Goa. He is Head of the Department of History at Dhempe College of Arts and Science in Miramar, Panjim.

Early and personal life Prajal Sakhardande was born on 18 April 1969 in Margao to Arvind Sakhardande, a professor, and Milan Sakhardande. His interest in history began in childhood when he read comic books like those published by Amar Chitra Katha. He was fascinated by famous personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Swami Vivekananda. One of his inspirations was Sardar Karnail Singh Banipal, a 21-year-old martyr of the Goa liberation movement.

Sakhardande married Anju Khaunte on 13 May 2001. In 2003, they had a son, Vishesh, who died shortly after birth.

Heritage activism On 30 September 2000, Sakhardande co-founded the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) in response to increasing threats to Goa's built and cultural heritage. The group aims to protect historically and aesthetically significant buildings, sites, and artefacts. He has been active in campaigns such as Save Mhadei, Goa Bachao Abhiyan, and anti-SEZ protests. His weekly column Pages from the Past has contributed to raising awareness of Goa's monuments and historical legacies. His 2025 book, History of Women’s Contribution to Goa’s Struggle for Freedom (1928-1961), examines women’s contributions to Goan history, focusing on the importance of recognizing women's roles in shaping cultural identities.

Publications Muslim History and Heritage of Goa (2012) Matanhy Saldanha – the Legend Goa Gold Goa Silver: Her History Her Heritage – from Earliest Times to 2019 (2019) Pages from the Past – A regular column authored by Sakhardande, featuring insights into lesser-known facets of Goan history.