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.
