Soter R. Barreto (1944 - )
Soter Renato Barreto, amcho dirgh-kallacho sangati borovpi, mull Bannavlecho
ganvkar, 22-04-1944 hea disak Moddganvam zolmolo. Bhurgeponninch
Aitarachem Vachop hea nemalleantlean taka Romi lipintlean boroilolê Konknni
bhaxechem ginean mell'llem. Lisevachem 5vem vors pas korun tannim Mumboi
Vidyapitthachi B.A. podvi melloili. L.l.B. chem xikop suru kel'lem tem
purnn korunk pavle nant. Lab. Tech. Kurs korun Gõy serkarachea Bholaiki
khateant unninch 40 vorsam vavrun, atam bospagari zaleat.
Sorgest Feliciobabachê prernnek ani ut'tejonak lagun tannem Konknni
borovpachi survat 1962 vorsa keli, ord-xenkddobhor ti sotot chalu dovorli
ani azun kriyaxil asa. Vividh vixoyancher lekh, nibondh, kotha, kothika,
ani her toranche sahityoprokar tannim hatall'lleat.
Feliciobabachea Goencho Sad satalleant survat korun, fuddem Loksad disallem,
Sot, Divtti, Novem Goem, Goencho Avaz, Vavraddeancho Ixtt hancher boroilam.
Gulab, The Goan Review, hancher sabar vorsam savn tachem borop neman
uzvadda yet asa. Vorsavollicho Goencho Avaz hacho sabar vorsam karbhari
sompadpi mhunn vavr kela. Halinsorak Sunaparant disallem ani Jaag, Konkan
Times, Umalle, Konkann Daiz, Fulam hea nemalleancher borop kelam ani korta.
Gõyche Akaxvannicher zaitem borop korun vitrailam.
Gõychea Konkani Bhasha Mandal hacho sorvkall vangddi asun tachê karbhari
somiticho vangddi ani Sorchittnnis zaun vavurleat.
2007 vorsacho "Gulab Ut'tom' Konknni Boroinnar", KBM hacho 2007-ntlo "Seva
Puroskar", KBM-cho 2009-ntlo "Potrkarita Puroskar" him inamam tankam favo
zaleant.
Soterbab Barreto is a renowned Konkani litterateur. A regular contributor
to Gulab & The Goan Review. Incidentally his name does not feature in the
history of Konkani literature.
Fausto
Augusto wrote:
Flipping through the Konkani 'Jaag' which is a monthly published in
the Devanagari script and currently edited by Madhavi Sardessai (in
the past Ravindra Kelekar used to be the editor), I came across a poem
by one Soter Barreto which I liked entitled, 'Avoichem Naksheo'.
Without his permission I'll transcribe it into the Roman script
(incidentally, regarding which, I am unstudied so those who follow
certain standards may kindly pardon me if there are errors).
Avoin babdean
Hanchean khatir
Raandpan sosun
Aapleo naksheo
Zhoroileo
Hanei mat
Jivitbhor
Aapleo naksheo
Phakt rangaileo
A more or less word for word translation would be:
Poor mother
Because of them
Tolerated widowhood
Her finger nails
She wore out
But they
All their lives
Their nails
They just painted
I think this neat little poem could be enjoyed by a larger audience
if it is trans-created. Here is my two paisa worth attempt:
Fingernails
Poor Mama
Never had
Fingernails
Worth writing home about
As she endured widowhood.
She wore those nails out
Slaving for
Them.
They
On the other hand
Spent all their lives
Polishing their own nails
Brilliantly!
Cheers
Augusto
