Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 18: Veteran Konkani writer Stany William Lobo, widely revered by his pen name Manu Bahrain, passed away. He was 78.

Born to the late David and Mary Lobo, he was an alumnus of St Aloysius High School. His journey took him from Mangaluru to Bengaluru in 1969 for employment, eventually leading him to Bahrain in 1979. During his thirty-year tenure in the Gulf, he became a cornerstone of the expatriate cultural scene as a founder member of the renowned Konkani Kutam Bahrain, before eventually returning to settle in Mangaluru upon his retirement in 2011.

Manu Bahrain’s contribution to Konkani letters is characterized by a staggering volume of work that never compromised on quality. Throughout his illustrious career, he authored 8 full-length novels, 35 short novels, over 500 short stories, 150 humour articles, and 200 poems, alongside a vast array of other literary pieces. His novel ‘Aranyaacho Taalo’ is widely regarded as a classic within the genre, and his creative spark remained active until his final days, evidenced by the popularity of his serial story ‘Sodhnam’, currently being published in the Kutaam weekly.

In recognition of his immense dedication to the language, he was honoured with numerous prestigious accolades, including the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award, the late Victor Rodrigues Angelore Literary Award, and the 2014 Daiji Dubai Award. Despite his significant stature in the literary world, he was known among his peers and readers for his unassuming modesty and polite nature, standing apart as a mentor and an inspiration to many.

He is survived by his wife, Rosy, and his three children, Sonia, Cheryl, and Steven. The Konkani diaspora across the globe has expressed profound grief at the loss of such a monumental figure, and funeral details are currently awaited by the family.