Written by Tanisha Cardozo
Dr. Sushila Fonseca’s life is a compelling blend of science, literature, and social empathy. Born in Margao, Goa, and raised partially in Mombasa, Kenya, her journey began against the backdrop of India’s freedom movement—her father himself was a part of it. She pursued medicine at Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, where she later earned a post-graduate degree in Pathology and served as a resident doctor.
Her career brought her to Goa Medical College, but in 1983, she chose a different path: establishing her own private diagnostic laboratory in Fontainhas, Panaji. While her lab still serves the community, Dr. Fonseca has also carved a respected space in the world of Indian literature.
As an author, Dr. Fonseca writes both fiction and non-fiction, often weaving together her medical expertise with her desire to inform and inspire. Her books like What I Should Know About HIV/AIDS and Good Health Practices for the Family are written in an accessible, reader-friendly tone aimed at public health awareness. Her fiction, meanwhile, delves into more layered territory.
Rebecca’s Inheritance (2002) explores the devastating impact of alcoholism in families, Touched by Love addresses the emotional toll of HIV, while Invisible Currents highlights the drug trap. She’s also tackled themes of equality, cancer, and societal judgment—always grounding her stories in the realities of human health and relationships.
More recently, her work has gravitated toward historical fiction—driven by her passion for Goa and its past. Books like Against the Tide…47 Men…, Antonio Sequeira – His Quest for Goa’s Freedom, and When Faith Divides reflect her effort to turn historical events into engaging, emotional narratives.
She believes fiction has the power to reshape how we understand history—not through dates and declarations, but through human experience. “Historical fiction encourages readers to empathize with the people who lived through events and see the emotional and societal impact of decisions made by those in power,” she explains.
In When Faith Divides, her latest novel, she not only tells a story but also raises crucial questions about identity, belief, and societal manipulation—making it particularly timely in today’s socio-political climate. “I hope Goans will read it with an open mind, especially the youth,” she says, noting a concern that fewer young people today read books or engage deeply with history.
Dr. Fonseca’s creative process is driven by curiosity. She approaches each story with the attitude of a student—researching history, human psychology, and geography. When faced with writer’s block, she steps back and reflects, sometimes using it as a sign that the story needs a new direction.
When she’s not writing, she reads widely, across genres. She values feedback, especially when it’s personal—like the elderly reader who wept after reading When Faith Divides, or the young girl who connected so deeply with one of her characters that she mimicked her in daily life.
Dr. Sushila Fonseca writes for the sheer joy of it. “It’s a hobby,” she says. “But one through which I keep learning—whether it’s about medicine, history, or human nature.” If she had to describe her journey in one word, it would be “enriching.” And her writing certainly continues to enrich the literary and cultural fabric of Goa.
