Mangalore: Renowned Konkani poet Leo D'Souza no more
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Oct 10: Leo John D’Souza, popularly known as Liyab in Konkani literary world, passed away early morning on Thursday, October 10 in Bangalore. He was 79.
Resident of Kandettu, Bikkarnakatte, Mangalore, he was admitted to the St John’s Hospital, Bangalore recently and was in the ICU. He got discharged and was staying with his daughter and recuperating well.
He even sent an article to Daijiworld after getting discharged from the hospital. He wrote it while recuperating in the ICU.
He has left behind his wife Mary, children Judy, Sunita, Sandeep and Fr Sudhir.
Popularly known as Liyab for his innumerable fans, Leo John D’Souza born on May 6, 1934 in Mangalore, is a well-known name in the Konkani literary circle, having written more than 3000 poems in Konkani under the pen name “Kavyadas”. The collection of his poems has been brought out in the form of a book titled “Dev Haslo”, which is also published in English under the title “And God Smiled”. Kavita Trust has published his book “Zantyamchya Pavlamnim” (in the Footsteps of the Wise) and recently a collection of his poems “Devachim Dennim” (God’s gift) was published. He has also published articles both in Konkani and Kannada publications on political, social and religious topics.
In the year 2002 he was bestowed with Konkani Academy award for his contribution to the field of journalism. For many years Liyab worked as the associate editor of Raknno Weekly and was also the manager at “Sandesha” at Bajjodi, Mangalore.
Liyab has written a novel in Konkani titled “Putha Patim Ye” and has translated over 15 books from other languages including Pearl Buck’s “Satan Never Sleeps” and “Blood in the Mountain”, “Marcelino”, “Prince and the Pauper”, Martin Pores’s “Lad of Lima”, “Rip Van Winkle”, “Around the World in 80 days”, “The Travels of Gulliver”, “Sinister Signpost”, “The Crisscross Shadow”, and “Jacob the Faithful”.
He won the Mathias Family poetry award given by Kavita Trust in the year 2009 and Sandesha award for Konkani literature in 2013.
While awarding Kavita Trust’s Mathias Family poetry award in the year 2009, Kavita Trust president Melvyn Rodrigues had said, "Leo D'Souza has been chosen for this award in recognition of his relentless service to promote, popularize and keep alive the field of Konkani poetry; for his enormous contribution and sincere efforts to Konkani poetry by translating numerous poems from other languages and for inspiring and bringing out the talents among many poets of the traditional period."
Funeral will be held on Thursday, October 17 at St Sebastian Church, Bendore, Mangalore. Public viewing starts at 3 pm. Mass at 3:30 pm.
Click Here to read article by Leo D'Souza written while in ICU.