The Christmas Issue 2025

[Selma Carvalho]

Dear members,

It gives me great pleasure to unveil the JRLJ Christmas issue 2025. It marks 9 years of the JRLJ's existence which was founded in January, 2017. Over the course of the years, JRLJ has published three print anthologies, run writing courses, contests and platformed countless Goan writers and/or Goa-related writing. It has been a delight to read submissions, give feedback, publish, platform and promote. Nothing gives me more literary pleasure than reading a brilliant sentence which stays with me for years. Or reviewing a book, which perhaps will not get reviewed elsewhere. Do enjoy the Christmas issue. Each submission is beautiful, thoughtful and in some cases humorous. In an earlier life, it's possible I was in love with a poet, because it is always the poets who steal my heart and this issue is no different, do visit the poetry section. In the coming days, leading up to Christmas, I will platform these writers individually.

Fiction

My First Christmas by Sheela Jaywant

They Danced Jhumur that Christmas Night by Nilankur Das

Christmas Day Arrives from Notes on a Marriage by Selma Carvalho

Essays/Interviews

The Most Famous Suitcase in Goan Art History by Ava Sherry

The Language of Christmas in Faraway Lands by Saachi D'Souza

Christmas in Poona by Michelle Mendonca Bambawale

Poetry

In My Father's House by Suneeta Peres da Costa

Percolation by Salil Chaturvedi

Columbus in Christmas by Ashwani Kumar

Joao-Roque Literary Journal est. 2017

Joao-Roque Literary Journal est. 2017 Goa literary review Selma carvalho

Selma Carvalho

Author of "Sisterhood of Swans" and "Notes on a Marriage" both published by Speaking Tiger, India.