Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Updated

Mangaluru, Dec 21: Renowned writers Edwin J F D''Souza from Mangaluru, Bolwar Mohammed Kunhi from Puttur and Mumbai-based author Jerry Pinto have been chosen for the prestigious Central Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2016 in Konkani, Kannada and English languages, respectively. 

The announcement was made by the Sahitya Akademi in a press meet at New Delhi on Wednesday December 21.

Edwin D''Souza has won the Award for his Konkani novel ''Kallem Bhangaar'' (Black Gold), while Bolwar Mohammed Kunhi won the award for his 1,110-page ''Swathranthada Ota'' (Run for Independence), while Jerry Pinto bagged the award for his novel ''Em and the Big Hoom''.

About Edwin J F D''Souza

Born in Valencia, Mangaluru in June 1948, Edwin Joseph Francis D''Souza is a product of St Aloysius (Autonomous) College, Mangaluru and holds a degree in commerce and a postgraduate diploma in Konkani and five online diplomas from the Bible School, the US in Christian Theology.

His first short story in Konkani was published in the year 1964. Since then he has 33 novels, over one hundred short-stories, columns, satires etc to his credit. Many of his short stories are translated into English, Kannada, Hindi, Kashmiri, Malayalam and Tamil. He has won thirteen state, inter-state and international (from Dubai) awards for literature. His acclaimed short story, ''''A Cup of Hot Coffee'''' was published by the (late) Khuswant Singh in his anthology, ''''Our Favorite Indian Short Stories'''', published by Jaico Books. His heart-touching short story "Chocolates" has been published twice by Reader''s Digest Guide to Food, Special Collector’s Edition.

Several of his short stories have been published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi in its publications – Prateechi and Indian Literature.

In the field of translations, he translates from English into Konkani (Nagari/Kannada script) and also vice-verse.

His notable translations are 13 of his own Konkani short stories into English and published as an anthology “Chocolates” by English Titles Publications, Chennai. He has adopted/translated A J Cronin’s ''Shannon’s Way,’ and Robert Greenshaw’s ''Heaven Knows Mr.Allison''. His translations of choice short stories by Guy Du Maupassant, James Joyce, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Chekov appear regularly in Konkani periodicals. He is also on the list of accredited Tarnslators of Sahitya Akademi, Chennai chapter.

Sahitya Akademi assigned him to translate Konkani biography of the renowned poet and dramatist the late C F D’Costa and also to write the biography in English of the late V J P Saldanha.

His trilogy of 1008 pages, a single volume work published by the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi in 2015, is a very suceessful and significant work in Konkani literature. His first anthology of 22 short stories in Konkani (Devnagari) ''Poinn'' (The Journey) published jointly by Bimb Publications and Goa Konkani Akademi was released in Belgaum at the 29th All India Konkani Parishad on February 28, 2014.

He also wrote the dialogues for the Konkani movie ''Boxsane'' in 1995.

In the month of March 2012 he was awarded the The Book Sellers’ & Publishers’ Award (BAPASI) from Chennai for his lifetime contribution to a minority language.

Goa Konkani Akademi published his 450-page novel ''Kallem Bhangaar'' in Nagari script. This novel won him the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi Best Book of the year 2013 and also, Best Book of the Year 2013 from the Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Award, besides the latest award from the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

Federation of Konkani Catholic Association honoured him in 2015 and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah along with Mangaluru bishop Dr Bernard Moras and others. In 2015 ''Konkani Kutam, Bahrain'' conferred the Konkani Literature Lifetime Award on him.

He was on the general council of the Sahitya Akademi (2008-2012), New Delhi. He has also served as a member of the expert committee, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, which decides on the Fellowship Awards for Research, and also served on the Board of Studies (Konkani), Goa University.

Presently he is the executive director of Institute of Konkani, St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru and edits ''Amar Konkani'', a bi-annual research journal in Konkani (both Nagari/Kannada scripts).

It may be noted that Edwin D''Souza was the president of the 11th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan held in February 1992 at Karwar.

Speaking to Daijiworld after the announcement of the award, an elated Edwin J F D''Souza said, "I am very happy to receive this prestigious award. I have been writing in Konkani since 1964 and I am delighted to see that my writing in Konkani has been recognised by the Central Sahitya Akademi. I will continue to render my service to my mother tongue in future as well. I thank my readers on this special occasion for all their support."

Writers from Mangaluru who have won the Central Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani language previously include C F D''Costa, Gokuldas Prabhu and Melvyn Rodrigues.

About Bolwaru Mohammed Kunhi

Born on October 22, 1951 in Puttur, Bolwaru Mohammed Kunhi, a short story writer, novelist, playwright and scriptwriter, is known for introducing Muslim culture into Kannada prose. He has been awarded by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy thrice, including a lifetime achievement award in 1997. He has also won National Awards for his contribution to Kannada films.

Kunhi pursued his postgraduation in Kannada literature from Mysore University, bagging a gold medal.

As an editor, his works include the much acclaimed "Tattu Chappale Putta Magu", a collection of over 100 poems, "Santammanna", an anthology of 40-odd illustrated poems.

His other works include "Paapu Gandhi Bapu Gandhi Aada Kathe", a book on Mahatma Gandhi for children, "Ondu Thundu Godae" on the theme of Ayodhya, and many more. His magnum opus is the 1,110-page "Swathranthada Ota" released in 2012. He has also written a historical novel on Prophet Muhammad, titled ''Odiri''.

For his contribution to Kannada literature, he has been awarded the Karnataka Rajyotsva Award in 2012, three Sahitya Akademi Awards from Karnataka Sahitya Academy, Bharathiya Sahitya Samsthana Award, Kolkata (1981), Katha-Delhi (1993), Aryabhata (1984), Parashurama (2001) Shivarama Karantha Balavna Award, Basavaraja Kattimani Award (2013), Toulava Award(2010), Suryanarayana Chadaga Award(2012) Abu Dhabi BWF Award (2015) besides winning national and state awards (2002 and 2003) for his contribution to Kannada films.

Kunhi retired as chief manager of Syndicate Bank in 2011.

About Jerry Pinto

Born in 1966, Jerry Pinto is a Mumbai-based novelist, poet and journalist. One of India''s leading writers in English, Jerry Pinto''s works include ''Em and the Big Hoom'' (2012), ''Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb'' (2006), Surviving Women'' (2000) and ''Asylum and Other Poems'' (2003).

A writer of Goan origin, Jerry holds a degree in liberal arts from Elphinstone College, University of Mumbai, and a law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai.

In 2007, he won the National Award for Best Book on Cinema for his book on Helen Jairag Richardson titled ''The Life and Times of an H-Bomb''.

His collection of poems, ''Asylum and Other Poems'' was published in 2003. He has also co-edited Confronting Love (2005), a book of contemporary Indian love poetry in English. He returned to magazine journalism as a consulting editor at Man''s World magazine. Later, he joined Paprika Media to edit special projects. He writes articles for various national papers and magazines.

In 2009, he co-authored ''Leela: A Portrait with Leela Naidu'', a semi-biographical book of anecdotes and photos from Leela Naidu''s life. His first novel, ''Em and the Big Hoom'', published in 2012, won The Hindu Literary Prize that year. It was also shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize. The same book also won him the 2016 Windham–Campbell Literature Prize.

Other awardees

Hindi author Nasira Sharma for ''Paarijat'' and Gita Upadhyay for ''Janmabhumi Mero Swadesh'' in Nepali are among the 24 authors named for the Awards.

The list includes eight poets: Jnan Pujari (''Meghmalar Bhraman''/Assamese), Anju (''Ang Maboroi Dong Dasong''/ Bodo), Kamal Vora (''Anekek''/Gujarati), Prabha Varma (''Shyamamadhavam''/Malayalam), Sitanath Acharya (''Kavyanirjhari''/Sanskrit), Gobinda Chandra Majhi (''Nalha''/Santhali), Nand Javeri (''Akhar Katha''/Sindhi) and Papineni Sivasankar (''Rajanigandha''/Telegu).

Seven writers have been cited for short stories: Chahatrapal (''Cheta''/Dogri), Shyan Darihare (''Barki Kaki at Hotmail Dot Com''/Maithili), Moirangthem Rajen (''Cheptharaba Eshingpun''/Manipuri), Asaram Lomate (''Aalok''/Marathi, Paramita Satpathy (''Prapti''/Odia), Bulaki Sharma (''Murdjat Ar Dujee Kahaniyan''/Rajasthani) Vannadhasan ''Oru Siru Isai''/Tamil).

Aziz Hajini (''Aane Khane''/Kashmiri) and Nizam Siddiqui ''Mabad-e-Jadidiat Se Naye Ahed Ki Takhliqiyat Tak''/Urdu) have been awarded for their books on criticism. Nrisinghaprasad Bhaduri has been honoured for his essay ''Mahabharater Astadashi'' in Bengali and Swarajbir for his play ''Masia Di Raat'' in Punjabi.

The awards comprising a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, as well as a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1,00,000 will be presented to the authors in New Delhi on February 22, 2017.