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.