Goan Literature 

NOVEL EXPLORES A SEARCH FOR LOVE IN GOAN VILLAGE 

"Tivolem" by Victor Rangel-Ribeiro. Published by Milkweed Editions, Minneapolis, Minn. 1998 Pages 346.

Reviewed by Kala Dwarakanath / India Abroad

The winner fo the 1998 Milkweed National Fiction Prize, awarded each year to "the most exemplary work of literary fiction" published by Milkweed Editions, this debut novel is set in the village of Tivolem in Goa of the early 1930s.

Indian traditions and the customs of the Portuguese blend here, as do languages and religions. Against this backdrop, which provides a portrait of a village and the life it offers, the story of Marie-Santana unfolds as she attempts to recover from the trauma of her fiance's deceit and her parents' death.

We are introduced to Marie-Santana as she crosses the river to return home to Tivolem, brooding over the events of her life. As she rebuilds her life while taking care of her elderly grandmother, she is frustrated by the drudgery of life in Tivolem with its daily gossip and superstitions. Her only comfort is in the serenades her neighbor, Simon Fernandes, plays on his violin every day. They become fond of each other.

This is the story of the heroine's search for love in the face of ghosts from the past that threaten her love. It is told in the context of the issues of the day: the growth of Nazism in Germany, Gandhi's growing influence, colonialism and the position of women in traditional society.

Rangel-Ribeiro, who is 72, has worked in the editorial departments of several leading Indian publications and as a stringer for THE NEW YORK TIMES when living in India. He came to the United States in 1956. He holds a master's degree from Teachers College of Columbia University.

He is co-founder of the Goan Association in the U.S. and served as the music director of the Beethoven Society in New York. He has written several works of nonfiction, including two volumes on music, and short stories. (*)