At Home in Two Worlds: Essays on Goa

In this collection of posthumously published writings, Maria Aurora

Couto, celebrated for her literary prowess and cultural advocacy, offers an

unparalleled exploration of Goa. The distinguished memoirist’s lifelong

dedication to understanding her homeland’s multifaceted identity shines

through in each essay in At Home in Two Worlds.

A central theme in these reflections is the author’s upbringing in Konkani,

Marathi and Kannada-speaking Dharwad, alongside both Catholic and Hindu

communities, before she moved to Delhi, London, and Goa, enabling her

to embody insider and outsider perspectives on the place of her birth. She

interweaves her extraordinary personal experiences, interwoven with critical

discussions on colonialism, Christianity, and the numerous dualities-of

language, region, religion-that make Goa unique.

Each piece in this collection is an exploration into Goa from diverse

viewpoints, including those of visitors like Graham Greene and Umberto

Eco, as well as sociologists, historians, poets, and everyday individuals-

family, friends, neighbours, and those who have adopted Goa as home.