Without doubt, Irene Heredia lived amidst priviledged times. A quick glance through the 28 pages of photographs would tell you that. She was a University of Bombay gold medalist at the B.A. in 1938, rare indeed for a woman student then. Her husband, the late Jimmy Heredia, was the sheriff of Bombay and honorary consul of Brazil. She rubbedshoulders with ambassadors, consuls, the Pope, Cardinal Gracias, President Radhakrishnan, the then Emperess of Iran, queens and Gandhians. Her relatives include missionaries to Malacca and Charles Correa.But she knew tough times too. Then there’s early deaths in the family, migration, and the sudden fluctuations between doing well and instant poverty were the stories that many Goan families carry in their hearts. The author’s mother was widowed in her 20s. Her father again died quite early too.
