Tag: #books

International

Princess Leonor Poised to Make History as Spain’s First Queen in 150 Years

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Spain is poised to witness a historic transition as Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, prepares to become the country’s first Queen Regnant in 150 years. Her ascension will mark a significant milestone for the Spanish monarchy, with the last reigning queen being Isabella II, whose rule ended in 1868.

The Spanish crown has been held by the Bourbon dynasty since the early 18th century, following their victory in the War of the Spanish Succession. After decades under General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a central role in Spain’s transition to democracy. He abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, King Felipe VI, placing Princess Leonor next in line to the throne.

King Felipe married Queen Letizia, a former journalist, in 2004. She became queen at the age of 42 when Felipe ascended the throne. The royal couple has two daughters — Princess Leonor, born in 2005 and heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia, born in 2007.

As part of her preparation for future leadership, Spanish law requires the heir to the throne to undergo comprehensive military training across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Princess Leonor completed her International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales before beginning her military journey in August 2023 with Army training in Zaragoza, joining a cohort of over 500 cadets.

In 2024, she transitioned to naval training in Galicia and embarked on a 140-day, 17,000-mile voyage aboard the historic training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. Serving as part of the crew, she sailed across the Atlantic, around South America and onward to New York, later spending time aboard the warship Blas de Lezo before returning to Cadiz in July.

Her training continued with the Air Force, where in December 2025 she completed her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, becoming the first female member of the Spanish royal family to achieve this milestone. During her time at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia, she received a warm reception and is now set to be honoured with the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia, the region’s highest civilian award.

Fluent in several languages, including Spanish, Catalan, English, French, Arabic and Mandarin, Princess Leonor represents a modern, globally aware monarchy. Her journey reflects a careful balance between tradition and transformation, positioning her as a symbol of continuity and change as Spain prepares to welcome its first reigning queen in over a century and a half.

International

Kate Middleton Marks 44th Birthday with Emotional ‘Mother Nature’ Finale, Reflects on Healing and Gratitude

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral International Desk

Princess of Wales Kate Middleton marked her 44th birthday with the release of an emotional and deeply personal short film titled Winter, the fourth and final installment of her Mother Nature series. Released on Friday, January 9, the film reflects on healing, gratitude, and the profound connection between nature and wellbeing.

The visually poetic film captures Princess Kate on an early morning walk through frost-covered landscapes, strolling across bridges, dipping her hand into a flowing stream, and standing reflectively in open fields. Through a calm and introspective voiceover, she speaks about stillness, patience, and self-discovery during life’s colder and darker seasons.

“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration,” Kate reflects in the film, drawing parallels between the natural world and inner healing. She speaks of gratitude, emotional release, and the peace found in surrendering to nature’s rhythms, describing it as both a quiet teacher and a guide toward healing.

In the caption accompanying the film, the Princess of Wales described the Mother Nature series as “a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal,” while also highlighting its broader message of collective healing through creativity and environmental connection. Signing off simply with “C,” Kate emphasised the importance of learning from nature to build a healthier and happier world.

Filmed across locations including Berkshire — where Kate lives with Prince William and their three children — as well as London and the Cotswolds, the film was captured by filmmaker Will Warr. The series began in May 2025 to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, followed by Summer in August and Autumn in November.

The release of Winter comes a year after Kate publicly announced that she was in remission from cancer in January 2025. She had earlier shared her diagnosis in March 2024 and underwent treatment, including chemotherapy. Throughout that journey, Kate frequently spoke about the comfort and strength she drew from spending time outdoors.

A long-time advocate of connecting with nature, including the practice of forest bathing, Kate’s bond with the natural world took on deeper meaning during her recovery. Her earlier health updates, often shared through outdoor imagery, symbolised hope, resilience, and renewal.

With Winter, the Princess of Wales brings her Mother Nature series to a close — leaving behind a powerful message about healing, patience, and the enduring wisdom of the natural world, offered with grace, vulnerability, and quiet strength.

Human Interest

Fifty Years, Three Continents: The Fernandes Family’s Remarkable Return to Divar

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

For the Fernandes family of St. Mathias, Divar, January 3 holds a meaning far deeper than a date on the calendar. It is a marker of movement, memory, and a lifelong commitment to Goa’s cultural soul. The day is the birthday of Genevieve Fernandes, the eldest daughter of family matriarch Antonetta Fernandes, and it also commemorates January 3, 1976—the day Antonetta travelled from Santa Cruz airport in Bombay to London with her six children to join her husband, the late Bernard Fernandes.

At a time when overseas migration meant uncertainty and sacrifice, Antonetta’s decision required courage and resolve. This, however, was not her first transcontinental journey. Nearly a decade earlier, in 1967, she had sailed from Mombasa, Kenya, to Marmagao, Goa, navigating life across continents long before such mobility became common among Goan families.

The family later settled in Leicester in the United Kingdom, where Antonetta raised six children while remaining deeply connected to the Goan diaspora. She was actively involved in organising tiatr performances and cultural programmes, and ensured her children participated in the Scouts and Guides movement, grounding them in discipline, service, and cultural pride.

Recalling those years, her eldest son Marius Fernandes speaks of values passed down quietly but firmly. He remembers his mother insisting that wherever one lives, one must give something back—especially one’s culture. Even far from Goa, the family was never allowed to forget who they were or where they came from.

Marius went on to work with British Telecom, building a stable life in the UK, but the connection to Goa never faded. In 2000, he returned to Goa with his family, followed soon after by his parents, completing a journey that spanned Kenya, Goa, the United Kingdom, and finally, a return home.

Back in Goa, Marius Fernandes—now widely known as Festakar—channelled his global experiences into cultural action. Over the years, he has played a key role in organising 104 festivals across the state, from intimate village celebrations to large-scale cultural showcases highlighting Goan music, art, heritage, and local talent. For him, festivals were never just about size or spectacle, but about giving villages confidence, offering Goan artistes a platform, and reclaiming public spaces for culture.

Reflecting on his journey, Fernandes sees migration as deeply connected to his cultural mission. Living abroad, he says, teaches one the true value of what was left behind. Returning to Goa was not about slowing down but about responsibility—towards people, culture, and community.

At the heart of this story stands 94-year-old Antonetta Fernandes, whose quiet strength shaped the lives of her children. Looking back at her extraordinary journey today, her words remain simple and deeply Goan. She speaks of celebrating the move to the UK, but more importantly, of celebrating the return to Goa to live a sussegado life.

Fifty years on, the Fernandes family story is not just about migration across continents. It is about adaptability, cultural continuity, and the enduring idea of home—proof that no matter how far one travels, some journeys are always meant to end where they began.

Events in Goa

Phirse Kitaab: GIO Goa’s Statewide Reading Movement Culminates in a Vibrant Literature Festival

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO), a socio-educational organisation of young women committed to the moral and intellectual reconstruction of society, successfully concluded its statewide reading and literacy campaign ‘Phirse Kitaab’ with a vibrant Literature Festival in Goa. Rooted in GIO’s vision of nurturing informed, thoughtful and socially responsible individuals, the initiative reaffirmed the enduring relevance of books in an increasingly digital world.

Conducted from 7th to 27th December 2025, Phirse Kitaab unfolded as a twenty-day reading movement that reached children, youth, parents and educators across the state. Through school sessions, parenting interactions and educator dialogues, the campaign encouraged reading beyond academic requirements and highlighted its role as a lifelong habit essential for intellectual growth and social awareness. Read-aloud sessions, reading retreats, meet-the-author interactions, library visits and informal corner meets allowed participants to engage with books in reflective and community-driven spaces, reinforcing the idea that reading flourishes when it becomes part of everyday life.

The culmination of the campaign was marked by the Phirse Kitaab Literature Festival held on 27th December 2025, which brought together readers, writers, educators and families in a shared celebration of literature and dialogue. The festival featured discussions on creating student-centric libraries, with insights shared by Elijah D’Souza of Booktique Goa, and a thought-provoking panel on literature as a tool for social change. Moderated by Shoib Shaikh, the panel explored how literature shapes social consciousness, preserves collective memory and encourages critical engagement, with active participation from the audience.

Storytelling and creative sessions highlighted the emotional and imaginative power of stories across age groups, while art-based literacy activities enabled participants to express ideas through collaborative drawing and book design. Children, students and families engaged in interactive sessions that demonstrated the cognitive, emotional and developmental benefits of reading, while parents and educators explored research-backed strategies to build strong reading habits at home.

The festival also celebrated linguistic and literary diversity through an open poetry recital featuring works in English, Hindi, Marathi and Konkani, bringing together emerging voices and established poets. A lively literacy activity corner featuring poetry boards, blackout poetry, silent reading zones and thematic displays tracing the origins of books across cultures drew significant interest and participation.

The concluding programme marked a significant milestone with the launch of books by six emerging Goan authors, who shared reflections on their creative journeys and read excerpts from their works. Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Damodar Mauzo urged writers to write with sincerity, promote local languages and practice discernment in reading, while GIO Goa’s leadership reiterated that Phirse Kitaab is not a one-time event but the beginning of a sustained reading movement across the state.

Through Phirse Kitaab, GIO Goa reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening a culture of reading, reflection and dialogue. By engaging communities across generations, the campaign demonstrated that books remain powerful tools for personal growth, social awareness and meaningful change, laying the foundation for a more thoughtful and literate society.

Special Occasion

National Science Fiction Day: Celebrating Worlds Beyond Imagination

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

National Science Fiction Day is a celebration of imagination, curiosity, and the bold ideas that push beyond the boundaries of reality. Observed on January 2, the day coincides with the birth anniversary of legendary science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, whose visionary work helped define modern science fiction and inspired generations of readers, scientists, and storytellers.

Although not an official public holiday, National Science Fiction Day has steadily grown in popularity across the world. Recognised by organisations such as the Hallmark Channel and Scholastic Corporation, the day has become a meaningful occasion for fans to celebrate science fiction through books, films, cosplay, conventions, and creative expression. What was once a niche interest has now evolved into a global cultural movement that spans literature, cinema, technology, and pop culture.

Isaac Asimov’s influence on science fiction is unmatched. A trained biochemist, he authored or edited over 500 books and introduced concepts that remain relevant today. He coined terms such as “robotics” and developed ideas like “psychohistory,” a fictional science that combined history, sociology, and mathematics to predict the future behaviour of societies. His commitment to scientific accuracy and rational thinking set a benchmark for hard science fiction.

The spirit of National Science Fiction Day also celebrates other iconic voices who shaped the genre. Writers such as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, and Kurt Vonnegut imagined futures that questioned humanity, technology, time, and morality. Their stories continue to resonate through modern literature, film adaptations, and cultural references.

For many, the day is marked by reading classic science fiction novels, revisiting landmark films, or hosting movie marathons featuring titles like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, Alien, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Music from iconic sci-fi soundtracks, themed gatherings, and creative costume parties further add to the celebration.

At its core, National Science Fiction Day is about appreciating the power of storytelling to imagine futures, challenge assumptions, and inspire innovation. Whether through books, cinema, music, or art, science fiction reminds us that today’s imagination often becomes tomorrow’s reality.