A LIGHT HOME

About the Book

A LIGHT HOME. Gold. God.Glory. In the fifteenth century, the Golden Age of Discovery birthed out of the Renaissance opened up the Silk Road between Europe and the mystical East with Malacca in Malaya as an important port of call. With Portugal spearheading the voyages followed by the Dutch and English, these Colonial Masters fought each other as they plundered the Orient and bedded exotic denizens from their conquered vassals. A Light Home is the story of the Portuguese Serani Eurasians of Malaysia, progeny of this embrace between Europe and Asia. Theirs is a history of disenfranchisement and dispossession, with the forging of Identity and allegiance out of the crucible of decolonization and nationalism. Mindsets have to be renewed as they fight for the survival of a remnant cast off from Europe five centuries back, to secure a promising future. Sheila DeCosta, President of the Selangor And Federal Territory Eurasian Association records the story of her people in their fight for land acquisition - a Club house to call their own, in the 20th Century. It is a micro journey parallel to those of her Portuguese Dutch and English forebears. Through the office of President, the Serani have to outmaneuver political machinations and avaricious modern day merchants to bring their dream to fruition. These Malaysian Eurasians have to rise beyond Individual ambition, where the power of One represents the victory of the Collective, if their voice is to be heard to find their own place in the sun. A LIGHT HOME IS THEIR STORY.

About the Author

JK Asher grew up in Malaysia to the evocative Azan — the holy call to prayer ringing over a spice laden land. The authentic multicultural lived experience of the 1950s to the 80’s, despite the ‘69 race riots, is indelibly etched on her heart and psyche. A denizen of Sydney for the last 30 years, her first novel The Inverted Banyan Tree was written in self exile from her bloodland- Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku. ‘I ached with longing. It was almost a malaise, a hunger for the genuine validation of the people of my childhood and formative years. I felt unreal, outside of my skin in Australia. A ghost.’ Asher’s first novel evolved out of her own search for identity and the turmoil of being a pendatang, an immigrant in Australia. This inward journey took her to 16th Century Malacca and the Kristang Eurasians--progeny of Portuguese, Dutch and English colonisation. Her second non fiction novel A Light Home is a follow up and tribute to the indomitable Kristang Eurasians who themselves are fighting wraiths in their search for identity and agency. JK Asher’s art has taken her into film and television as well as advocacy for Refugee Rights. Her documentary “From the Killing Fields to the Playing Fields”, highlights the plight of the Rohingya and their dream to play in the CONIFA World Football Cup. https://www.jkasher.com/ email: asher.mulroney@yahoo.com Ashers voice has evolved to social justice. During Covid she and her husband worked for the Australian Asylum Centre to distribute food and resources in Sydney.