Goan author Yvonne Vaz ventures into historical fiction with her new novel, ‘Shadows in Time’ which launches today
KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
After years of documenting wartime memories and migration through non-fiction, Goan writer Yvonne Vaz has ventured into new territory with her latest novel, ‘Shadows in Time’.
In her earlier books (‘New Songs of the Survivors: The Exodus of Indians from Burma’, ‘Songs of the Survivors’, This Is My Song), Vaz explored the lived experiences of people who survived the upheavals of World War II, particularly those connected to Burma and the Goan diaspora.
In this book she brings together history, imagination, and personal reflection to tell a story about migration, memory, and resilience. “When I recorded the oral historical accounts of survivors of WW2 for my second non- fiction book, I often wondered how many stories were untold and lost forever. So I created this story of a Goan family who had to flee Burma in 1942 and then rebuild their life in a village in North Goa. The story also follows the next generations of the family, ” explains the author.
According to Vaz, the title of the book captures the central idea behind the narrative. “‘Shadows in Time’ refers to how time can move smoothly in the lives of generations of a family and yet may have buried secrets that cause upheavals that need to be faced and brought to light.” The story brings out the importance of family love and support in times of trouble.
For Vaz, shifting from non-fiction to fiction meant learning an entirely new craft, but her love for literature helped her navigate in this transition. “I had to learn how to sustain characterisation, use dialogue to bring out the story, and describe settings,” she says.
Readers familiar with her earlier books may recognise descriptions of wartime events such as bombings and the dangerous journeys made by refugees fleeing Burma by boat. “But it’s different because the fictional family experiences all those happenings in their own ways. And there’s a love story in it too,” says Vaz.
Unlike many historical novels centred on a single protagonist, ‘Shadows in Time’ unfolds through multiple viewpoints and emotional complexities that arise within families experiencing displacement and change.
“There are many perspectives in my novel — how young love can overwhelm emotions, the consequences it leads to, and how important it is to have family support,” she explains.
The story also reflects the emotional challenges faced by migrants trying to rebuild their lives after trauma. “I imagined how difficult it would have been for families with their personal psychological baggage to try to establish new lives in Goa.”
To recreate the rhythms of village life in Goa, she spoke to long-time residents and consulted historical sources, including ‘Feast, Feni and Firecrackers’ by Mel D’Souza.
“Although that book is about Saligao in the old days, I thought the customs and traditions would be similar in the neighbouring village of Sangolda,” she says.
The novel also reflects Vaz’s personal experiences and worldview.
“My writing delves into my Buddhist as well as Catholic upbringing in Burma and also my experiences as a school counsellor listening to stories of young love and their confusion that lead to making wrong choices,” she says, adding that the themes of compassion and understanding run throughout
the story.
“One of my themes is that one should not be judgemental and that family support is essential in times of trauma,” she says. “I’m not preaching — just expressing my feelings. The story is fiction and can be interpreted any way.”
(The book will be released today at 5.30 p.m. in the presence of Isabel de Santa Rita Vas, Damodar Mauzo and Jose Lourenco at The Saligao Institute, Saligao)
