KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
Having previously released the first volume of ‘The Brave New World of Goan Writing and Art’ in 2018, followed by the second volume in 2020, Selma Carvalho has now edited and come out with the third volume. This book brings together a collection of short stories, poems and essays from Goa’s finest writers
Excerpts from an interview:
How do you think the anthology has evolved since 2018? Are there any new writers this time around?
The content in each successive volume has greatly improved, either because I’ve become fussy over the years or because more writers have joined the fold. This year, we have quite a few new names such as Nilankur Das and Nathanial da Costa, two of the finest, young fiction writers I’ve read in a long time, Michelle Mendonca Bambawale, an environmentally conscious writer, Joanna Lobo, another young writer whose work lovingly centres Goan traditions, and Gavin Barrett, a standout poet who lives in Canada are also part of this work. It’s hard for me to believe this but it is also the first time I am featuring Augusto Pinto, one of Goa’s finest literary critics and Tino de Sa, whose poetry is exquisite.
Apart from this, quite a few writers like Paul Melo e Castro, Jessica Faleiro, Steve RE Pereira, Glenis Maria Mendonca, Salil Chaturvedi, Mrinalini Harchandrai, Rochelle Potkar, R. Benedito Ferrao, Vishvesh Kandolkar and Jaenita Singh appear in previous anthologies, some in all three of them. These are outstanding writers and poets who consistently produce thought-provoking and in-depth perspectives on Goa.
How does it feel to edit the writing of already established writers?
The two elder statesmen of Goan writing included in the anthology, Victor Rangel-Ribeiro and Manohar Shetty, are both seasoned editors. There is no question of me imposing anything further on their writing. Sometimes a word may have acquired a different meaning and connotation in its contemporary use and I might change that, but that’s it.
The work of other well known writers such as Aniruddha Sen Gupta, Heta Pandit, Savia Viegas, Vivek Menezes, Jerry Pinto, Jane Borges, and Venita Coelho arrived on my editor’s desk either well edited or as a rough diamond which I had to chisel to perfection. Either way, it was a pleasure working with them.
Some writers may or may not like their work being edited much, how do you maintain a balance?
As writers we have to accept suggestions from the editor and as editors we have to respect the writer’s voice. If I feel a piece needs too much editing, I will reject it, and suggest the writer submit something else.
What are your thoughts on Goan creativity and its future?
The creativity is present. The platforms and encouragement that is needed from the state government, institutions and other stake holders is missing. As a result, Goan writing only becomes visible if published by national publishers. This is a recipe which will kill off the regional voice. Hence my constant support for regional voices and publishing.
