A few years ago I was in Lisbon, the vibrant capital of Portugal, a country that had close colonial ties with India, commencing with the arrival of Vasco da Gama in Calicut several centuries ago. While visiting a memorial constructed in memory of his famous journey across hostile seas, and closely listening to a local guide (a mix of fact and lore, all in perfect English), I became quite aware of the sailor-explorer’s extraordinary feats, and, importantly, some of his beliefs and habits.