Ravindra Kelekar bags Gyanpith award

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-11-23
PANAJI - Ravindra Kelekar, who has been awarded the Gyanpith award, the highest literary award in the country, is the living legend of the Konkani movement. He has been a prolific writer, with a number of books in three languages – Konkani, Marathi and Hindi.
The octogenarian Gandhian, Kelekar, described as a writer-fighter, has dedicated his life for the promotion of Konkani and worked tirelessly for its cause for the last six decades.
Over the years since he began the fight for the cause of Konkani, he has seen the language getting its recognition as official language of the state at the national level in the form of him being awarded Sahitya Academy award, its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule and now getting the Gyanpith Award.
Himalayant, his book in Konkani, won him national recognition in 1976 in the form of Sahitya Akademi award. He was made a Fellow of the Sahitya Academy in 2007 and earlier this year, he was awarded Padma Bhushan.
His Konkani books include Navi Shala, Himalayant, Satyagrah, Mangal Prabhat, Mahatma, Ashe Ashille Gandhiji, Katha ani Kanyo, Tulshi, Velevoilio Ghulo, Bhaja Govindam, Uzvadeche Sur, Bhashechem Samaj Shashtra, Mukti, Teen eke Teen, Lala Bala, Brahmandantlem Tandav, Panthastha, Samidha, Vothambe, Sarjakachi Antar Katha. He also translated Mahabharat in Konkani (two volumes).
The Marathi books written by him include Japan Jasa Disla, Gnyannidhicha Sahavasat while in Hindi he wrote a book – Gandhi – Ek Jivaniya. A Number of his books have been translated into Hindi and other North Indian languages and are used in university education.
Based in Priol, Mr Kelekar has had his primary education in Gujarati. The octogenarian Konkani litterateur had dedicated his Padma Bhushan award, given to him for pioneering service in the resurgence of the Konkani language, to the Konkani language.
A disciple of Kakasaheb Kalelkar, he has dedicated his life for the preservation, propagation, promotion and strengthening of Konkani language. He has written nearly 100 books in Konkani language and also edited ‘Jaag’ magazine for more than two decades. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat congratulated Kelekar on being chosen for the Gyanpith award.
In his message to Kelekar, the Chief Minister said that he (Kelekar) has brought great honour and pride to the Goans by winning the prestigious award for Konkani, the official language of the state of Goa.
Mr Kamat further said that Kelekar, who is also a freedom fighter, has contributed not only for the liberation of Goa but also made laudable contribution for the promotion of Konkani language.