RyanQuintana2 at 09:05, 23 October 2025

2025-10-23T09:05:03Z

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{{Short description|Indian author (1917–2013)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Irene Heredia
| image = Irene Heredia in her youth.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Irene Heredia in her youth
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = 1917
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|1|21|1917|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| resting_place = St. Peter Haines Road Cemetery
| occupation =
| language =
| nationality = 
| citizenship = 
| education = 
| alma_mater = 
| period =
| genre = 
| subject = 
| movement = [[Goa liberation movement]]
| notable_works = ''It's Been a Long Day - A Nonagenarian Remembers''
| spouse = [[J. N. Heredia]]
| partner = 
| children = 5
| relatives =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
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}}

'''Irene Heredia''' (1917 – 21 January 2013)<ref name="ToIObituary">{{Cite news |date=2013-01-25 |title=IRENE HEREDIA |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/irene-heredia/articleshow/18184261.cms |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> was an Indian author, educator, and social advocate.<ref name="QuestEdu24">{{Cite journal |last=Abraham |first=Anna Usha |date=July 2024 |title=Irene Heredia: It's Been a Long Day – A Nonagenarian Remembers |journal=Quest in Education |url=https://www.gandhishikshan.com/wp-content/Quest-in-edu/2024/Quest_in_Education_Jul_2024.pdf |pages=183–204 |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

==Early life==
Irene Heredia was born in 1917 in Goa.<ref name="ToIObituary" /> Following her father’s death when she was young, moved with her widowed mother and five siblings to [[Poona]].<ref name="QuestEdu24"/> There she learned Marathi from a European governess and experienced diverse schooling: first at a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] institution, then at an English‑style finishing school in Bombay. She excelled in her studies, topping the [[Bombay Presidency]] in her Bachelor’s degree and earning the [[Duke of Edinburgh]] scholarship.<ref name="QuestEdu24"/>

==Career and public service==
From 1958 to 1964, Heredia served as a member of the Central Film Censor Board, contributing to national cultural policy. Later, she dedicated herself to social work, joining three non‑governmental organisations and founding the Civic Group (later the Social Advocacy Group) to address public grievances and promote community welfare.<ref name="QuestEdu24"/>

==Goa liberation movement==
Irene and her husband were active members of the Goa Liberation Council in [[Bombay]], working towards Goa's freedom.<ref name="SakhardandeWomen24">{{Cite book |last=Sakhardande |first=Prajal |author-link=Prajal Sakhardande |title=History of Women's contributions to Goa's struggle for Freedom (1928-1961) |publisher=Ideas Age |year=2024 |isbn=9-788197-748936 |location=Goa |pages=74–75}}</ref> She also contributed to ''Free Goa'' magazine along with [[Bertha Braganza]].<ref name="HeraldNationalist10">{{Cite web |last=Martins |first=Levinson J. |date=2010-08-11 |title=A nationalist & a gentleman |url=https://issuu.com/herald-goa/docs/11_aug/9 |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=[[oHeraldo]] |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413082114/https://issuu.com/herald-goa/docs/11_aug/9 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 1960,<ref name="HeraldNationalist10" /> Heredia was part of a delegation that met with then [[Home Minister of India]] [[Pandit Pant]] in [[New Delhi]], urging the Indian government to take action for the freedom of Goa. Others in the delegation were Eclito D’Souza, [[George Vaz]], [[Vishwanath Lawande]], [[Lambert Mascarenhas]], [[Aruna Asaf Ali]] and Bertha Braganza.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-31 |title=Freedom fighter Dr Eclito passes away |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/na/freedom-fighter-dr-eclito-passes-away/38650 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref>

==Memoir==
Heredia’s memoir, ''It's Been a Long Day - A Nonagenarian Remembers'', was first published in 2012 and updated in 2015. Her life story is narrated along with major historical events. She recounts life under British rule, the impact of [[World War II]] on Indian society, the [[Quit India Movement]], India’s independence celebrations on 15 August 1947, and the [[Goa Liberation Day]] on 19 December 1961. The second edition includes an appendix of her speeches and writings, highlighting her role as a community leader and mentor.<ref name="QuestEdu24"/>

Her memoir thus highlights the experiences of Goan women and the socio‑political transformations of mid‑20th‑century India, inspiring readers to appreciate the contributions of “unknown housewives” and community advocates.<ref name="QuestEdu24"/>

==Personal life==
Irene married [[J. N. Heredia]], then honorary Consul for Brazil and son of a prominent Goan physician.<ref name="QuestEdu24"/> Together, they had 5 children, Kit, Rudi (S.J.), Chantal, Delia, Selena.<ref name="ToIObituary" />

==Death==
Irene Heredia died in her sleep on 21 January 2013. The funeral was held on 23 January at the St. Michael's Church, [[Taleigao]]. Her ashes were then interred at the St. Peter's Haines Road Cemetery on 28 January.<ref name="ToIObituary" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heredia, Irene}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Goa liberation activists]]

Irene Heredia - Revision history

RyanQuintana2 at 09:05, 23 October 2025