A rare honour It is the first time that a resident Goan, most of whose achievements have been accomplished on this soil, has been honoured with a Padma Bhushan. And, appropriately, the award, in the category of literature, has gone to the greatest writer living in the field of Konkani literature, Ravindra Kelekar.
Ravindra-babs was much more than just a brilliant writer. He was also a linguist, a Gandhian and a freedom fighter. A disciple of Gandhis lieutenant Kakasaheb Kalelkar, Ravindra-bab actively participated both in Indias freedom movement and in Goas struggle for liberation. He was active in the historic Opinion Poll and the Konkani Movement. He wrote nearly 100 books in Konkani, and edited Jaag, a Konkani literary magazine, for more than two decades. A recipient of the first-ever Sahitya Academy Award for Konkani, Ravindra-babs contribution to the Konkani language and literature is immeasurable. However, he remains unassuming and modest. This award should have gone to [the late Konkani poet] Dr Manoharrai Sardesai, long before me, he observed when informed that he had won the award. That is a hallmark of true greatness. http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=7758&cid=15 Goa's Pride - http://www.goa-world.com Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter (Since 1994) archived at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans/ Moderated by Gaspar Almeida & presented by Ulysses Menezes http://youtube.com/watch?v=NX0VwOSHWns --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
