Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Dec 22: Renowned Konkani writer and winner of this year's Central Sahitya Akademi Award Dr Madhavi Sardesai passed away on Monday December 22 due to cancer. She was 52.

A noted critic and linguist, Dr Sardesai was chosen for the Sahitya Akademi Award for her book 'Manthan', an anthology of critical essays in Konkani. She was to receive the Award in March 2015.

Niece of Konkani writer and Jnanpith Awardee Ravindra Kelekar, Dr Sardesai was the head of the Konkani department of Goa University.

Dr Sardesai had also received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the translation of her book 'Eka Vicharachi Jivit Katha' on Gandhi's life. She was also the editor of 'Jaag', a Konkani monthly.

Her works includde 'Bhasa-Bhas', a book on linguistics, 'Eka Vicharachi Jivit Katha', 'Mankullo Raj Kunvor', a translation of the children’s novelette 'The Little Prince' from French to Konkani, and several poems, essays, short stories, and research papers on the Konkani language, literature and linguistics.

Dr Sardesai was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and based in Margao. Her husband Raju Naik is a journalist and editor of a Marathi daily. They have two daughters. Dr Sardesai did her primary education in Konkani medium, and graduated from the Chowgule College, Margao in English and philosophy. She had an MA in linguistics, and presented a thesis on 'Some Aspects of Konkani Grammar' for her MPhil degree. She was awarded PhD by the Goa University's department of English for her thesis on 'A Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Study of Lexical Influences on Konkani'.

The final rites will be held in Margao on Tuesday December 23.