Contemporary Goan writing and art are navigating pressing questions of belonging, land, language, and social inclusion amid a period of rapid change, according to writers and poets at a recent MOG Sunday discussion at the Museum of Goa (MOG). The session focused on The Brave New World of Goan Writing & Art 2025, an anthology that brings together fiction, essays, and art criticism spanning Konkani and Portuguese works in translation, queer narratives, and reflections by artists, curators, researchers, and heritage practitioners.
The discussion featured contributors Heta Pandit, Janeita Singh, Annie Sengupta, and Glenis Mendonca, in conversation with moderator Aaron Monteiro. Conversations explored the cultural significance of Goan homes, the role of informal community spaces, and notions of public responsibility, while also delving into the complex identities of contemporary Goan artists who navigate multiple cultural worlds. The anthology highlights the value of retaining untranslatable words, documenting environmental and social transformations, and bringing historically marginalised narratives around caste, gender, and queer communities into the spotlight.
Speakers emphasised that translation, documentation, and critical engagement are crucial for sustaining Goa’s rich and diverse cultural voices during a time of rapid transformation. The discussion reflected a vision of Goan identity that embraces complexity, hybridity, and inclusivity, positioning literature and art as vital tools for understanding and shaping the state’s evolving cultural landscape.
Panaji, August 2025 — In an age marked by polarised narratives and cultural conflict, the Museum of Goa (MOG) is hosting an unmissable event that promises both historical depth and contemporary relevance.
Titled “Faith Lines: Syncretism, Conflict and the Stories We Tell”, the session features a dynamic conversation between acclaimed historian Manu S. Pillai and senior journalist Seema Mustafa, exploring the role religion has played in shaping — and often shaking — the South Asian subcontinent.
🕊️ While religion has been a unifier across centuries, it has also sparked deep divisions. This talk dives into how colonialism redefined religious identities, how syncretic traditions have survived amidst conflict, and how our historical narratives continue to impact civil society today.
Manu S. Pillai is known for his accessible yet academically rich storytelling. With bestsellers like The Ivory Throne and False Allies, he has reshaped how young Indians engage with history. Seema Mustafa, former President of the Editors Guild of India, brings with her decades of fearless journalism, known for centering secularism, civil liberties, and journalistic integrity.
Together, they will ask:
How do we remember and retell the past?
Can historical narratives help us build bridges in divided times?
What is the role of storytelling in healing or fueling identity politics?
📚 Books by both authors will be available for purchase, thanks to Literati Bookstore.
🎟️ Entry is free, but with limited seating, attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
Event Details: 📅 Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025 🕡 Time: 6:30 PM onwards 📍 Venue: Museum of Goa, Pilerne Industrial Estate, Bardez 🎟️ Entry: Free (Limited seating)
Many individuals from earlier generations grew up unaware that they were naturally left-handed, often because they were “corrected” during childhood to use their right hand. This often led to long-term adjustment challenges. Even today, left-handed individuals—especially children—might begin using their right hand after observing that most of their peers are right-handed. The need to conform and feel included can cause some to suppress their natural preferences, potentially affecting their comfort and development over time.
This Left-Handers Day, we spoke to three individuals who reflect on what it’s like growing up left-handed in a world designed for right-handed people. Their stories range from funny to frustrating, but above all, they are real.
✨Jai Vernekar
“Being left-handed in a right-handed world is both fun and frustrating,” says Jai. “Every time I start writing, someone inevitably asks, ‘Wait—are you left-handed?’ as if it’s a rare superpower!”
Fun fact: Jai describes a world where even lefties are surprised to see another leftie. “It’s weird for us when we see a leftie too,” he jokes. “We’re so used to everyone being right-handed.” Some people even challenge them to write with their right hand—just to watch them fail.
🖐️Logan Lobo
“I would instinctively use my left hand for anything,” Logan remembers. “I had to practice making my right hand dominant—handing things over or greeting people.”
Logan found writing the letter S difficult because watching right-handed kids confused him. How long it took him? A couple of years he said. “I don’t think there’s anything special about my left hand,” he states.
Fun fact: Logan says, “I’ve been learning to use my right hand too, just so I can confuse people and they won’t know if I’m lefty or righty.”
🎯Manuela Braganza
“I’m by definition right-handed but use both hands,” Manuela shares. She recalls an eye-opening experience from third grade, when she had mirror twins in her class—identical twins who used opposite hands. At the time, she didn’t even know such a thing existed. Thinking it was a skill she needed to learn, she began to write with her left hand.
While she admits she’s not perfect at writing left-handed, the shift brought unexpected benefits. Manuela found that using her left hand came naturally when she picked up a camera or tried archery. In fact, she shoots archery left-handed because she feels she has more control and better aim using that hand.
Manuela’s ability to use both hands proved especially valuable in her role as a cabin supervisor, where she had to operate the heavy manual doors on Boeing’s smaller aircraft. “They can weigh over a ton,” she explains. “You need your full body strength to open them—especially the angled ones connected to the aerobridge.”
For many crew members, these doors are notoriously difficult. “You need to be skinny to meet the flight standards, but strong enough to open the door, especially in tough conditions like strong winds or on ladders,” she explains. While many crew members struggled or even failed door checks, Manuela’s ambidexterity made the task more manageable— pushing with her left hand while gripping the assist handle with her right gave her greater balance and confidence during the process.
🌍🤝Taking Back the Narrative
For too long, left-handedness was seen as something to correct or fix. But Jai, Logan, and Manuela show us that being left-handed is something to embrace and take pride in—not something to hide or change. This Left-Handers Day, it’s time to take back the narrative, celebrate our differences, and build a world that truly includes everyone—lefties and righties alike.
