RIP: Maria Aurora Couto
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Frederick Noronha
Jan 14, 2022, 7:44:13 AM1/14/22
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Maria Aurora Couto
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Maria Aurora Couto
Couto at her home in Carona, Aldona in 2015
Died14 January 2022
Occupation
Writerprofessor
Notable works
Goa: A Daughter's StoryFilomena's Journeys
Notable awards Padma Shri (2010)
Maria Aurora Couto (died 14 January 2022) was an Indian writer and
educationalist from Goa. She was best known for her book Goa: A
Daughter's Story. She lived in the North Goan village of Aldona. She
helped start the DD Kosambi Festival of Ideas and has been involved in
activities of Goa University.
Contents
1Early life
2Career
3Personal life and death
4Works
5Awards
6References
7External links
Early life[edit]
Couto's family hails from the Roman Catholic Goan community. Her
parents, Francisco (Chico) Figueiredo and Filomena Borges, were both
from Salcete. She moved to Dharwad with her parents and six siblings
when she was a child, in the hope of eliminating her father's
alcoholism because alcohol was banned there. Instead, her father chose
to abandon his family, return to Goa and die prematurely from
alcoholism.[1][2] Couto went on to teach English literature in
colleges[3] like Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi and Dhempe College,
Panaji[4] and has contributed to periodicals in India and the United
Kingdom.
Career[edit]
Couto's writing career began with her 1986 book about Graham
Greene.[3] Her 2004 book, Goa: A Daughter's Story, covers the history
of Goa along with being an autobiography. The book discusses Goa, from
the prehistoric times to its Portuguese colonialism to its Liberation
and subsequent loss of culture.[5] In 2014, Couto released her book
Filomena's Journeys, which delves into the life of her mother,
Filomena Borges, covering "Goa’s dying Catholic elite" as it shows the
shift of society and culture in Goa.[3]
As the Chairperson of the DD Kosambi Centenary Committee in 2008,
Couto helped initiate the DD Kosambi Festival of Ideas, a lecture
series sponsored by the Department of Culture, Govt of Goa.[6] Couto
has also been actively involved with the Goa University.[4]
Personal life and death[edit]
Her husband, Albano Couto, belonged to the Indian Administrative
Service. She met him in Mumbai and they had three children together,
one of whom is named Veena.[4] Due to the nature of his work, they
would travel and stay across the country. They almost settled in
Chennai, before finally choosing to live in Aldona, Goa,[7] in his
ancestral house. She enjoyed listening to South African jazz and was
passionate about films, having started a film club when she was a
teacher.[4] Albano Couto died in June 2009.[8] Maria Couto died on 14
January 2022 after a brief illness.[9]
Works[edit]
The works of Couto include:
Couto, Maria (1988). Graham Greene: On the Frontier, Politics and
Religion in the Novels. London: Macmillan.
Couto, Maria (2004). Goa: A Daughter's Story. Penguin Books India.
ISBN 978-0-14-303343-1.
Pereira, A. B. de Braganca (2008). Ethnography of Goa, Daman and Diu.
Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-208-5. (a translation of Etnografia da
India Portuguesa by A.B. Braganza Pereira from Portuguese)
Couto, Maria (2013). Filomena's Journeys: A Portrait of a Marriage, a
Family & a Culture. Aleph Book Company. ISBN 978-93-82277-04-0.
Awards[edit]
In 2010, the Government of India, awarded Maria Aurora Couto the Padma
Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.[10][11]
References[edit]
^ Couto, Maria Aurora (2013). Filomena's Journeys: A Portrait of a
Marriage, a Family & a Culture. New Delhi: Aleph Book Company.
^ Moniz Barbosa, Alexandre (4 December 2013). "Maria Aurora Couto: A
Goan daughter's story of her mother's inspiring journey". The Times of
India. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
^ Jump up to:a b c Pisharoty, Sangeeta Barooah (26 March 2014). "A
sketch in time". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Coutinho, Tonella (10 May 2015). "Goa's daughter
tells her story". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
^ Hoskote, Ranjit (4 April 2004). "Apparent divide, actual bridges".
The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2004. Retrieved 21
March 2020.
^ "Dr Kosambi an active fighter for peace: Ansari". One India.com. 4
February 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
^ "Mega debate at Canacona remains inconclusive". Herald Goa. 18
August 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
^ "Alban Couto no more". The Times of India. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 4
April 2020.
^ Noted Goan Writer And Academic Maria Aurora Couto Passes Away
^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved
21 July 2015.
^ "List of Padma awardees 2010". The Hindu. 26 January 2010. ISSN
0971-751X. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
External links[edit]
Media related to Maria Aurora Couto at Wikimedia Commons
hide
Authority control
General
VIAF 1WorldCat
National libraries
United StatesNetherlands
Categories: 20th-century births2022 deaths20th-century Indian
educational theorists20th-century Indian historians20th-century Indian
novelists20th-century women educators20th-century Indian women
writersGoan CatholicsWomen writers from GoaScholars from GoaPeople
from North Goa districtIndian Roman CatholicsRecipients of the Padma
Shri in literature & educationIndian women novelistsIndian women
historiansIndian women educational theoristsNovelists from GoaWomen
educators from GoaEducators from Goa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Maria Aurora Couto
Couto at her home in Carona, Aldona in 2015
Died14 January 2022
Occupation
Writerprofessor
Notable works
Goa: A Daughter's StoryFilomena's Journeys
Notable awards Padma Shri (2010)
Maria Aurora Couto (died 14 January 2022) was an Indian writer and
educationalist from Goa. She was best known for her book Goa: A
Daughter's Story. She lived in the North Goan village of Aldona. She
helped start the DD Kosambi Festival of Ideas and has been involved in
activities of Goa University.
Contents
1Early life
2Career
3Personal life and death
4Works
5Awards
6References
7External links
Early life[edit]
Couto's family hails from the Roman Catholic Goan community. Her
parents, Francisco (Chico) Figueiredo and Filomena Borges, were both
from Salcete. She moved to Dharwad with her parents and six siblings
when she was a child, in the hope of eliminating her father's
alcoholism because alcohol was banned there. Instead, her father chose
to abandon his family, return to Goa and die prematurely from
alcoholism.[1][2] Couto went on to teach English literature in
colleges[3] like Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi and Dhempe College,
Panaji[4] and has contributed to periodicals in India and the United
Kingdom.
Career[edit]
Couto's writing career began with her 1986 book about Graham
Greene.[3] Her 2004 book, Goa: A Daughter's Story, covers the history
of Goa along with being an autobiography. The book discusses Goa, from
the prehistoric times to its Portuguese colonialism to its Liberation
and subsequent loss of culture.[5] In 2014, Couto released her book
Filomena's Journeys, which delves into the life of her mother,
Filomena Borges, covering "Goa’s dying Catholic elite" as it shows the
shift of society and culture in Goa.[3]
As the Chairperson of the DD Kosambi Centenary Committee in 2008,
Couto helped initiate the DD Kosambi Festival of Ideas, a lecture
series sponsored by the Department of Culture, Govt of Goa.[6] Couto
has also been actively involved with the Goa University.[4]
Personal life and death[edit]
Her husband, Albano Couto, belonged to the Indian Administrative
Service. She met him in Mumbai and they had three children together,
one of whom is named Veena.[4] Due to the nature of his work, they
would travel and stay across the country. They almost settled in
Chennai, before finally choosing to live in Aldona, Goa,[7] in his
ancestral house. She enjoyed listening to South African jazz and was
passionate about films, having started a film club when she was a
teacher.[4] Albano Couto died in June 2009.[8] Maria Couto died on 14
January 2022 after a brief illness.[9]
Works[edit]
The works of Couto include:
Couto, Maria (1988). Graham Greene: On the Frontier, Politics and
Religion in the Novels. London: Macmillan.
Couto, Maria (2004). Goa: A Daughter's Story. Penguin Books India.
ISBN 978-0-14-303343-1.
Pereira, A. B. de Braganca (2008). Ethnography of Goa, Daman and Diu.
Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-208-5. (a translation of Etnografia da
India Portuguesa by A.B. Braganza Pereira from Portuguese)
Couto, Maria (2013). Filomena's Journeys: A Portrait of a Marriage, a
Family & a Culture. Aleph Book Company. ISBN 978-93-82277-04-0.
Awards[edit]
In 2010, the Government of India, awarded Maria Aurora Couto the Padma
Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.[10][11]
References[edit]
^ Couto, Maria Aurora (2013). Filomena's Journeys: A Portrait of a
Marriage, a Family & a Culture. New Delhi: Aleph Book Company.
^ Moniz Barbosa, Alexandre (4 December 2013). "Maria Aurora Couto: A
Goan daughter's story of her mother's inspiring journey". The Times of
India. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
^ Jump up to:a b c Pisharoty, Sangeeta Barooah (26 March 2014). "A
sketch in time". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Coutinho, Tonella (10 May 2015). "Goa's daughter
tells her story". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
^ Hoskote, Ranjit (4 April 2004). "Apparent divide, actual bridges".
The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2004. Retrieved 21
March 2020.
^ "Dr Kosambi an active fighter for peace: Ansari". One India.com. 4
February 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
^ "Mega debate at Canacona remains inconclusive". Herald Goa. 18
August 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
^ "Alban Couto no more". The Times of India. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 4
April 2020.
^ Noted Goan Writer And Academic Maria Aurora Couto Passes Away
^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved
21 July 2015.
^ "List of Padma awardees 2010". The Hindu. 26 January 2010. ISSN
0971-751X. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
External links[edit]
Media related to Maria Aurora Couto at Wikimedia Commons
hide
Authority control
General
VIAF 1WorldCat
National libraries
United StatesNetherlands
Categories: 20th-century births2022 deaths20th-century Indian
educational theorists20th-century Indian historians20th-century Indian
novelists20th-century women educators20th-century Indian women
writersGoan CatholicsWomen writers from GoaScholars from GoaPeople
from North Goa districtIndian Roman CatholicsRecipients of the Padma
Shri in literature & educationIndian women novelistsIndian women
historiansIndian women educational theoristsNovelists from GoaWomen
educators from GoaEducators from Goa
Veena Patwardhan
Jan 14, 2022, 9:19:23 AM1/14/22
to goa-bo...@googlegroups.com
So sorry to hear the sad news. May Mrs. Couto's soul rest in peace.
Veena
Veena Patwardhan
Tel: 8108996599
http://www.veenapatwardhan.com
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.
- Henry David Thoreau -
Tel: 8108996599
http://www.veenapatwardhan.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/PataCake?sub_confirmation=1
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.
- Henry David Thoreau - --
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Valmiki Faleiro
Jan 14, 2022, 9:39:54 AM1/14/22
to Goa Book Club
A sad loss.
More than a writer, author and college lecturer, Maria Aurora Figueiredo Couto was a diehard daughter of Goa.
Heaven will surely be kind and grant her eternal rest.
v
taran diesh
May 19, 2024, 8:55:48 AMMay 19
to The Goa Book Club
hello my grand mom in law and Aunty Couto were friends from the time when Mr Couto was in Central services
MY grand father in law was at one time the governor of Goa
I met Aunty Couto in 2017 at her home
is there a way anyone can get me in touch with Veena Couto please
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