The University Library of University of Prešov welcomed Indian-Australian acclaimed author and senior lecturer Doctor Roanna Gonsalves of University of New South Wales, Syndney, on April 30th, 2026. Doctor Gonsalves, an Erasmus beneficiary who came to Prešov upon being invited by Professor Jaroslav Kušnír, introduced her upcoming publication The Servants to the students and teachers of University of Prešov.

The event was hosted by Professor Jaroslav Kušnír, the director of the Institute of British and American Studies, Faulty of Arts, who warmly welcomed Doctor Gonsalves. In his introduction, he listed the many achievements of Doctor Gonsalves, which include the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award Multicultural Prize in 2018 for her literary debut The Permanent Resident and Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award. Doctor Gonsalves, who is a senior lecturer in creative writing at University of New South Wales, also co-founded the writers’ collective Southern Crossings and works as an editor for the Southerly Journal.

Doctor Gonsalves introduced her work to be published next year, The Servants, by reading two excerpts and providing some insight into her creative process. The Servants is focused on George Jarvis, the Hindu servant of governor Lachlan Macquarie (the ‘father of Australia’), and the story takes place in India, Australia, the UK, and Ireland between 1795 and 1825. Doctor Gonsalves’ work involves extensive historical research, which serves as the basis for the re-imagining of the life of George Jarvis as the colonial subject, servant and slave, but also a living person with a history, community, and a complex inner life. To achieve this, she draws on theories of Foucault as well as Lakota and Aboriginal approaches to literature. In a monumental colonial struggle between nations, Gonsalves foregrounds the voices of the servants to challenge mainstream depictions of the British Empire. 

The students were curious about Doctor Gonsalves’ presentation, asking about topics such as the castes, Doctor Gonsalves’ experiences as an immigrant, the emotionally heavy content of her historical research, and potential difficulties with writing a critical novel about one of the dominant figures of Australia’s historical landscape. Professor Kušnír hosted the discussion and helped to create a comfortable, educational atmosphere. Dr Gonsalves’ wisdom and nuanced perspective enriched the students of University of Prešov, who are grateful for the opportunity. 

Photo: University Library