Two women receive Sahitya Akademi awards for Konkani literature

1
2
Margao:
Konkani writer Nayana Adarkar was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 for her collection of stories 'Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo'. Glynis Dias received the Yuva Puraskar for her work 'Gaavgaathaa', a collection of short stories that captures the essence of rural Goan life.
Adarkar's body of work spans multiple genres, including poetry collections such as 'Pratima', 'Mansanvar', and 'Kisran', alongside her story collections 'Spandan' and 'Krishnachud'. Her literary essays 'Povanam', 'Chanfo', 'Kantekunvar', and 'Batmogrim' resonated deeply with readers and critics alike.
Her dedication to nurturing young minds through children's literature is particularly noteworthy, with numerous storybooks that enriched Konkani literature for younger audiences.
Her writings were incorporated into the curriculum of the Goa Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, as well as the BA course at Goa University.
Earlier, Adarkar received Goa govt's Yashodamini Puraskar and the Kerala Prachar Sabha's Saraswatibai Sahitya Puraskar. The Konkani Akademi and Konkani Bhasha Mandal both awarded her their respective Sahitya awards. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Dr T M Pai Foundation Prashasti Puraskar.
Dias is an assistant professor of Konkani at the Govt College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem. Her award-winning collection 'Gaavgaathaa' draws extensively from her intimate knowledge and observations of rural life. The title story of her collection holds particular poignancy, chronicling the tale of Kurdi village, which disappeared beneath the waters following the construction of the Selaulim dam more than three decades ago.
Dias, whose parents originated from Kurdi, crafted a touching narrative around this submerged village that briefly resurfaces during the summer months when water levels recede. The award presentation ceremony will be announced later.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

27 minutes ago

• Hans India

It is ‘Viva Sao Joao!' all over in Goa on June 24

Every June, the Sao Joao festival is celebrated with grandeur and gaiety in Goa. The festival is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Sao Joao is a Portuguese word that translates to St. John. The festival honours St. John the Baptist, as the one who baptised Jesus. Every year, June 24 is celebrated with great joy and reverence, especially by Goa's Catholic community. The celebrations include villagers jumping into wells, streams and ponds. This jump is to signify the joy that St. John felt when Jesus Christ was born. The boys are found merrily jumping into the water to commemorate the leap of joy, which St John is said to have taken in the womb of his mother, St Elizabeth when Virgin Mary visited her. The festival also includes playing the traditional ghumot (percussion instrument). It also sees revellers wearing the kopel (the crown of fruits, flowers and leaves), parading in villages and often hopping from one place to another as they chant, 'Sao Joao! Viva Sao Joao'. Goan music and dance are an essential part of the Sao Joao celebrations. Traditional Konkani songs fill the air, and groups perform lively folk dances. Of course, no Goan festival is complete without feni and so it is with these festivities. The beats of drums, violins, and ghumots set the rhythm as people break into a spontaneous dance, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Local bands and musicians take centre stage, entertaining crowds with energetic performances and classic Goan melodies. With music, dance, and feni flowing freely, Sao Joao transforms into a grand carnival of joy and unity. Families prepare a delicious feast featuring traditional dishes like sorpotel, sannas, bebinca and fish curry-rice. Sharing food with family, friends and visitors is a big part of the celebration. Homes are filled with the aroma of freshly cooked seafood, rich spices, and coconut-based curries, making it a delightful affair. Many communities organise festive buffets and set up food stalls, allowing visitors to savour the authentic Goan flavours. Eating together fosters a sense of togetherness and hospitality, making Sao Joao as much about food as it is about festivity. Incidentally, Sao Joao is an occasion for the family and the villagers to get to know husbands of their newly wed daughters a little better. Jubel D'Cruz,Mumbai

Hindustan Times

a day ago

• Hindustan Times

Review: Museum of Goa by Kunal Ray and Subodh Kerkar

Kunal Ray's Museum of Goa will serve as an eye-opener for readers who think of museums as stuffy places with musty old cabinets and ancient artefacts bearing no relation to their present life. A biography of an institution called Museum of Goa (MOG) — constructed over 18 months on a plot of land at the Pilerne Industrial Estate in Saligao — and of its founding director, Subodh Kerkar, this book shows that museums can also be 'workshops for ideas'; that they can be vibrant and participatory spaces that invite visitors to be co-creators of meaning and not just consumers of a collection. From Souza to Xacuti: At the Museum of Goa (Courtesy MOG) Interestingly, MOG is not just an acronym. The word means 'love' in Konkani, which is the official language of Goa and is widely spoken there. This semantic coincidence is not only charming but quite apt since the museum is a labour of love. Trips to museums in France, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States made Kerkar realise that his home state had no contemporary art museums. So, he built MOG. 64pp, ₹215; Ektara Trust Kerkar's big career switch from medicine to art, emphasized by Ray in his narrative, speaks volumes about the former's passion for art. A decade after setting up a hospital near Calangute beach, and serving fisherfolk as a physician, he wrapped up his medical practice to focus on his art, which spans a wide range from drawings, paintings and photographs to installations, sculptures, performances, video art, and multimedia works. Without belabouring the point, the book nudges readers towards the realization that medicine and art have something in common — a capacity to heal. This book is not a critical appraisal of Kerkar's body of work; it is meant to introduce children to his art. One of the works discussed here is a multimedia art installation titled 'Gandhi's Heart Sounds'. Ray writes, 'We see Gandhi's bust and hear his heartbeats. It is like having him among us, with us.' Instead of using archival footage or photographs, Kerkar decided to go ahead with an unusual idea. Ray adds, '…the artist converted Gandhi's electrocardiogram to the sound of his beating heart.' This would arouse the curiosity of children reading the book, and hopefully also give art teachers some tips on how to make their classes more interesting with experimental projects that are fun for children. Subodh Kerker (Courtesy the subject) During a conversation with the author, Kerkar remarked that the best part of being at MOG is 'meeting children every day'. The Children's Art Studio at the institution was conceptualized by Kerkar's daughter Sharada who now runs it. 'Last time I met Subodh, he showed me the dinosaurs he had drawn with a bunch of kids on loose sheets of paper that day. When I met him today, those dinosaurs had happily wandered to a stage curtain,' writes Ray. The book would not have been as much of a visual treat without the illustrations by Kerkar, who also holds the Mario Miranda Chair for Arts at Goa University. It opens with a visual of a wide-eyed child jumping onto a large ice cream cone and closes with one of Subodh high-fiving a bunch of excited children. The artist's work is rooted in Goan history and culture, and this book presents his desire to celebrate these aspects of his native land. Ray points out the recurrence of coconut trees in Kerkar's work and writes of his love of 'drawing on logs of wood brought ashore by the sea'. Photographs of fisherfolk and sculptures using oars and boats are part of his oeuvre. The museum itself is part of his larger artistic vision and has a café that serves traditional Goan snacks and coolers. Author Kunal Ray (Courtesy the subject) Readers curious about the quieter aspects of Goa are likely to enjoy this book. It might also strike a chord with those who love walking on the beach by themselves or with loved ones. One beautiful illustration features a little Subodh holding his father and mentor Chandrakant's hand as they stand on the beach and look out at the horizon. 'Growing up, Subodh remembers going on a long walk along the beach with his father daily. Those walks brought him closer to his father and to the world of art,' writes Ray. An important fact that this book mentions in passing but is worth highlighting is that Kerkar did not study art formally but learnt from visiting museums. With museums in India gradually waking up to the significance of outreach programmes targeted at schools, Museum of Goa is a reminder that museums must not only inform and educate but also encourage curiosity and play. That can happen only when children are allowed to ask questions instead of being told, like earlier generations of Indian students, to shut up and walk in single file. Chintan Girish Modi is a journalist, educator and literary critic. He can be reached @chintanwriting on Instagram and X.

Pink Villa

3 days ago

• Pink Villa

Spirit Big Update: After Animal, Upendra Limaye reunites with Sandeep Reddy Vanga for Prabhas starrer

Prabhas starrer Spirit has been another of his most anticipated films. The movie is being directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and is currently in pre-production. Recently, the movie seems to have been joined by notable actor Upendra Limaye, as his picture with the filmmaker is doing the rounds. Animal's Freddy Patil aka Upendra Limaye joins Spirit? Taking to Instagram, Upendra shared a picture with filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga as he visited the latter in his office. He penned a witty caption, which led many to speculate whether he was the newest addition to the film's cast. Sharing the photo, the actor wrote, 'Pleasure meeting Reddy Brothers at their new office, Bhadrakali Pictures in Hyderabad. Reddy Brothers are in high 'SPIRITS' !Cheers !.' Upendra Limaye's previous work profile Speaking of Upendra Limaye, he is a veteran actor who has been a part of films in Marathi, Konkani, and Hindi. The actor has previously collaborated with Sandeep Reddy Vanga in Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in the leads. Some of his other recent movies include Sunny Deol's Jaat, Salman Khan's Antim: The Final Truth, Kunal Kemmu-directed Madgaon Express, and many more. Triptii Dimri bags lead role opposite Prabhas in Spirit After the exit of Deepika Padukone from the cast of Spirit made headlines, Sandeep Reddy Vanga soon announced Triptii Dimri as the leading lady for the movie. The actress has already collaborated with the filmmaker in Animal, and her role has garnered considerable acclaim from fans in no time. More about Spirit Coming back to Spirit, it is one of the most ambitious projects of the filmmaker as he joins forces with Prabhas for the first time. It is touted to be an A-rated action film in the making, where the actor will allegedly play the role of a cop. More details on other characters, including Triptii's, are awaited.