Cashew Kernels is the seventh volume in an ongoing series of short story collections born out of the Fundação Oriente Short Story Competition, held biennially in Goa. Featuring a carefully curated selection of stories originally written in English, Konkani, Marathi, and Portuguese—and translated into English—this anthology continues the series' mission: to showcase the many-layered voices and vivid imaginations that emerge from Goa and its wider literary world.
Since its inception, the competition has opened a unique space for writers young and old, amateur and established, to explore and express the diverse realities, histories, and inner lives that shape this distinctive region. Published in some of the past editions too by Goa,1556, the series has become a literary archive of contemporary Goan storytelling—one that blends fiction with folklore, memory with modernity.
In Cashew Kernels, readers are once again invited to journey through Goa—not the postcard version, but the lived-in, deeply felt, often surprising Goa of its people. These stories peel back the surface to reveal what lies beneath: stories of joy and loss, tradition and transformation, humor and quiet heartbreak.
Like the cashew nut, whose rich flavor is only revealed after layers are stripped away, the stories in this collection reward careful reading. Together, they remind us that Goa’s literary spirit is as layered, unexpected, and enduring as the land itself.
Over the years, Fundação Oriente Goa has played a quiet yet influential role in nurturing the creative arts in the state. Through its residencies, exhibitions, talks, and publishing support, it has created space for artistic dialogue across disciplines and languages. The short story competition, in particular, has encouraged writers across generations to explore Goan themes through the lens of fiction. By offering recognition, translation, and eventual publication, the initiative has strengthened the connection between local storytelling and wider literary networks.
The stories in Cashew Kernels are not bound by genre or tone—they range from realist to fantastical, nostalgic to contemporary—but they all share a deep sense of place. Goa, in these pages, is not a fixed image of beaches and holidays, but a layered and living space shaped by memory, migration, legend, and loss.
The land itself becomes a character, influencing the fates of those who live in its villages, towns, and borderlands. At the same time, the stories ask us to reflect on who gets to represent Goa and how. Significantly, one of the entries in this volume comes from a Brazilian writer who has made Goa her home—a sign of the region’s evolving literary landscape, increasingly open to new voices from within and beyond its borders.
As with previous editions—some of which have been published by the independent Goan publisher Goa,1556—this collection is not just a gathering of stories but an act of documentation. It captures a moment in Goa’s cultural life, one where storytelling becomes a way of understanding identity, language, belonging, and change. In doing so, it contributes to a broader effort to sustain literary production in a region where publishing opportunities remain limited and multilingual writing often struggles to find a platform.
The title Cashew Kernels is a fitting metaphor for what lies within. Just as a cashew nut must be carefully harvested, cracked open, and roasted before it can be enjoyed, these stories reward thoughtful reading. Some will offer warmth and familiarity; others may sting, provoke, or linger long after they’re read. But all of them are tied to the land in some way—its landscapes, histories, dilemmas, and dreams.
This book invites you to discover Goa through its storytellers—those who live here, those who have roots here, and those who have come to stay.
Miscellaneous Short stories 2024. Pp. 202. Rs 400. ISBN 978-93-95795-84-5
