A Sindhi tale rooted in pre-Liberation Goa

Negotiating the dual identities of a Sindhi-born, but ocean-loving Goan, Mrinalini Harchandrai, author of Rescuing a River Breeze, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Asian Prize for Fiction, delved into the complexities of multiple cultural identities during her recent talk at 'MOG Sunday' in Pilerne, North Goa.

As part of the MOG Sundays lecture series held each week at the Museum of Goa, Harchandrai, during the course of her book reading and interaction with the audience, explored the layers of multiple cultural and linguistic identities and the challenges of coming of age in a land where belonging can be an act of resistance rather than just residence.

Set against the backdrop of a Goa that was on the brink of India’s liberation of Portuguese-ruled Goa, Harchandrai’s novel blends fiction with tender reminiscence.

“Even though I am 100 per cent ethnically Sindhi, my mother's side of the family put down roots in this part of the Konkan coastline in the early 1900s," said Harchandrai.

"As we can see even today, the waters around the Konkan have always been brisk with trade for centuries before us,” she added, while making a case for a person of Sindhi origin choosing to write a historical novel set in Goa.

Mrinalini Harchandrai, author of 'Rescuing a River Breeze'Even though I am 100 per cent ethnically Sindhi, my mother's side of the family put down roots in this part of the Konkan coastline in the early 1900s.

In fact, in 1919, her great-grandfather Nathurman Devwani moved with his older brother from the seaport of Karachi in Sindh – which at the time was part of the Bombay Presidency – to set up his business interests in Goa.

Almost drawing fictional parallels to her lineage, the novel’s protagonist, Shirly Quarrachim, born in to Sindhi immigrant parents, finds herself caught at the bewildering crossroads of adolescence and annexation.

In a powerful live reading, Harchandrai recalled the formative incidents that inspired the novel, like memories passed down from her mother, who watched the Portuguese flag being replaced with a white one, a symbol of the defeat of Portuguese rule, and the disappearance of her best friend, never to be seen again.

“The protagonist in the novel, young Shirly, who is 12 going on 13, is on the cusp of her teenage years, and has been introduced to books like Adobo's Travels and Sherlock Holmes. So, she is quite aware of places that exist outside of her small hometown, and the idea of adventure," shared Harchandrai.

"And, like most young people, with a soaring imagination, she wants adventure that is as good as the that she has read,” she continued.

Almost drawing fictional parallels to her lineage, the novel’s protagonist, Shirly Quarrachim, born in Panjim to Sindhi immigrant parents, finds herself caught at the bewildering crossroads of adolescence and annexation.

The novel has been gaining recognition for its skillful portrayal of layered identities – Goan, Indian, and immigrant – all coexisting and clashing during a time of emotional and political upheaval.

When asked about the merger of fictional and non-fictional tropes in her book, she mentioned, “I wanted to deliberately retain certain aspects – like the watching of the flag and some specific events and experiences."

"But, the rest – thoughts, feelings and many other moments, are definitely fictional, and have been added more for the sake of drama than anything else,” she clarified.

Bringing depth to the land of Goa, so often reduced to a beachside resort destination, Rescuing a Breeze invites audiences to re-invent the narrative and paves the way for more stories that truly emulate the ancient thrum of Goa, according to the author.