Goan homes grow on you. Once you have seen one, spent a few days lazing in one or bought a ruined home and restored it to its original beauty, you simply cannot forget the homes you have seen or lived in. These are not just houses. They are material evidence of history, a unique umbilical cord that binds us all to the idea that is Goa. At our Online Talk #CruciblesOfCulture, author and conservationist Heta Pandit tells stories from a few select houses in Goa that hold a special place in her heart. These are stories of inherited wealth, ideas shared, artefacts, designs and technology borrowed, and most important of all, the passion for Goa and Goan homes.

About the speaker

Heta Pandit has written 11 books on Goan heritage and is currently working on her twelfth. She has initiated several heritage preservation projects through the Indian Heritage Society, Bombay Chapter, and puts all her energies into the preservation of Goan houses. She is a Homi Bhabha Fellow and a founder member the Goa Heritage Action Group. She lives in Saligão, Goa, with her dog Goru and a cat named Ginger.