Author, heritage activist and vice chairperson of GHAG (Goa Heritage Action Group), Heta Pandit, recently sat down for a candid conversation with writer and photographer, Vivek Menezes, during ‘History Hour’ to speak about her life’s journey, Goa, its heritage and Goan houses through her books. The event was held at XCHR (Xavier Centre of Historical Research), Porvorim.
Heta started her journey in Tanzania, studying chimpanzees under the world renowned scientist, Dr Jane Goodall. That’s not all.
Back then, since she was a part of the Bombay Environment Action Group in the 1980s, in the 1990s after the violent communal riots in Mumbai, she shifted to Munnar and worked as a tree planter, and finally moved to Goa in 1995.
She is the founder-member of GHAG and has written 11 books on Goa and its heritage, including a collection of short-stories.
INSIDERS & OUTSIDERS
Looking back at her life, Heta mentioned that she was born in Parsi family in Pune, but shifted to Baroda in 1961 as her father was told to set up a public health laboratory there.
She spent her formative years in Baroda (or Vadodara) and believes that the time spent there in staff quarters with neighbours and friends, has made her what she is today.
In his discussion, Vivek brought out the topic of the insider-outsider debate, which is quite rampant in Goa due to the influx of non-Goans, especially in this past decade. Heta maintained that one is always an outsider beyond their inner circle.
She said, “My ancestors came from Iran 1,800 years ago. My parents got married without the approval of their parents, so they became outsiders in their own community. For me, it’s been a long journey of 28 years in Goa. I don’t see myself as an outsider now.”
THE BOOK JOURNEY
Speaking about her books, she said that she has come a long way since her first book, Houses of Goa, which she co-authored with Anabel Mascarenhas. At that time, people had no idea about such a book.
She narrated an incident when a lady, whose house Heta had visited in order to include it in the book, asked her where the book was. But now, while working on her latest book, Stories from Goan houses, people have come forward to share their family histories and stories.
Heta also spoke about her book, There’s more to Life than a House in Goa, which she describes as an autobiography, as she has explained her life’s journey and how she discovered her house at Saligao, where she currently resides.
When asked about the perennial issue related to heritage houses in Goa, which is its maintenance and restoration, she maintained that every house should work for itself. She stated that one should treat their old house like an elderly family member that needs care and attention.
Heta gave the example of the three houses which she has inherited — two of them at Panchagani are used as a bed and breakfast/homestay, while the other at Bandra, Mumbai, is hired for film shoots.
A PIECE OF GOA
She said that most heritage houses in Goa have deteriorated due to family disputes, owners have moved abroad or the younger generation is not motivated enough to look after them.
She also made a strong statement that, “If someone from Delhi or Timbuktu is ready to buy the house, put it back on its feet, without tampering too much with the original and the essence of the house, then I would say, welcome that person with open arms. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”
She also pointed that now there is desperation to get a piece of Goa among non-Goans. She said, “It is a big status symbol now to have either a second or third home in Goa. A lot of the new settlers live in gated communities with swimming pools draining the village water sources. They have nothing to do with Goan people, culture, etc.”
However, Heta also stated that there is another side to it, especially the youngsters who have settled here during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was evident during the 25 walks which GHAG conducted for 16 days, when they witnessed many non-Goans participating since they were interested in knowing the land of their adoption. Also, some youngsters from Goa, who have been featured in Stories from Goan Houses, are motivated to stay in Goa.
GOAN STORIES & CULTURE
Heta also spoke about her two interesting books, Grinding Stories and Grinding Stories Retold that are about indigenous poetry or ovios, sung over a grinding stone by native women of Goa. She informed that she learned about ovios by chance, from Rajendra and Poornima Kerkar, while researching architectural art. It was a story which is sung; a story about how an eagle saved a cobra from drowning even though it is its predator. During that time, Kerkar informed her that in Goa, we help enemies in times of adversity. For Heta, this is the idea of Goa.
Both these books have documented the oral histories of Goa as these songs are translated in English by Heta with the help from researcher, Shubhada Chari. Heta elaborates that translation takes such works to a wider audience and helps in understanding not only poems, but also the culture, the place where these stories are situated.
Heta also cautioned that while writing about culture and heritage, especially the indigenous culture, one has to be mindful and should abstain from commodification of it. She informed that she always shared the information with the people she interviewed or featured.
Heta also believes in self-publishing her books because that way, she has more control on the material and how it is published.