Stories from Portugal

Portuguese writer Clara Macedo Cabral is in Goa for the commemoration of World Portuguese Language Day celebrations

until May 9. NT BUZZ talks to the author about her books and whyGoa is special

KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ

Portuguese Language Centre of Camões, I.P. and the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa is commemorating World Portuguese Language Day (May 5) with various events, taking in consideration the 500th anniversary of the birth of poet Luis de Camões and the 50th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal.

As part of these celebrations, London-based Portuguese author Clara Macedo Cabral has been sharing more about her books with Goan audiences.

This is Cabral’s second time in India, but her first time in Goa. “I love India. Every time I come here, there’s so much to see, there’s such a richness. And Goa is very special. It’s an endless source of inspiration,” she says. Also intriguing for her, she says, is being able to still observe traces of Portuguese presence in Goa through monuments and forts.

And indeed history and culture is something that deeply fascinates Cabral as evidenced by the themes of her books.

Her latest book especially, ‘Enterrem-me na Vertical. Dr. Cabaninhas–Uma vida pela liberdade’, which she presented recently at The Camões Portuguese Language Centre in Goa, led by director  Delfim Correia da Silva, depicts her family’s painful history

“My grandfather who was a lawyer, fought the dictatorship for 48 years. He was sent to prison by Salazar quite a few times and persecuted by the police,” shares Cabral, adding that this period was quite traumatic for the family which was under constant surveillance at that time.

In fact, Cabral reveals that her family did not like talking about this period. “When there›s so much suffering inside the family, you don›t speak about it, because it brings back these memories,” she says. However, in an attempt to heal from this trauma and understand the legacy of who she is, Cabral decided to write this book. But it was far from easy. “It was difficult, because it has all that emotional background. Also, my  grandmother had passed away by then which made the research process tougher,” she shares, adding that when the book was launched her mother read the book twice. “And now she is not ashamed anymore of her father and his fight,” says Cabral.

Another book by Cabral, which she also read excerpts from here in Goa is titled ‘A Inglesa e o Marialva: um amor na arena’. The novel is about a very brave upper class English woman who in her twenties decides to become a bullfighter. “The woman’s brother shared this story with me and I was very intrigued her courage,” shares Cabral.

On May 7, Cabral will be talking at the Camoes centre about her book ‘Lisbon Story’ apart from discussing the importance of reading literary texts as an instrument for developing intercultural communicative competence.

“Lisbon Story’ is not only for children but is meant for all ages. Goans will be able to relate to many names in the books and I am hoping that this will generate interest and curiosity to travel or to learn more about Portugal,” she says. And Cabral states that her books depict Portuguese language and its culture in detail. “Anybody who has interest in Portuguese culture or language can relate to my books,” she says.  “To understand the present, you need to know the layers of history. Otherwise, it›s just superficial. And while the story of my grandfather or Ingrid Maria Alva happened 60 or 70 years ago in a very different Portugal, there are features that you can still see today,” she says.

(The World Portuguese Day celebrations are organised in collaboration with the Portuguese and Lusophone Studies Department of the Shenoi Goembab School of Languages and Literature at the University of Goa and are supported by Camões, Institutoda Cooperação e da Língua, I.P.)