Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 18: Renowned Konkani poet Marian Paul Rodrigues, widely known as M P Rodrigues, has been chosen for Kavita Trust's Mathias Family Poetry Award for the year 2015. The award consists of Rs 10,000 cash with citation and momento. The award, initiated by Kavita Trust, is given every year by Joseph Mathias, the managing director of Merit Freight Systems, in the name of his family.
The award will be presented during the 10th 'Kavita Fest’ to be held at World Konkani Centre at Shaktinagar on January 10, 2016.
M P Rodrigues was born on July 6, 1946 in Kaudur village near Gurpur. Hailing from agriculturists' family, he loves nature and this can be seen in his poetry. He has a strong influence of Louis Mascarenhas in construction of lines and rhymes in his poetry. But without remaining within the sphere of traditional poetry, at times he has ventured into modern poetry as well. His poetry, unlike many, portrays social life instead of personal experiences. M P Rodrigues, a graduate in economics, spent three decades working in Dubai. It is six years since he has come back to hometown. His love towards poetry has remained the same since he started writing. In recognition of his relentless work in the field of poetry, Kavita Trust has chosen him for the annual award.
M P Rodrigues has won Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy award for 'Rumddi Fulam', a collection of poems published by Kavita Publications. 'Rasthya Degechim Fulam', another book of poems by Rodrigues will see light of the day soon. In addition to poetry, Rodrigues has written short stories and articles. As a singer, he has sung many songs and has also appeared in radio programmes. Sirivanth, Fr Sila Minez and Fr J S T Rodrigues are his mentors.
Aruna Rao Kundaje, Mumbai (2008), Leo D’Souza (Kavyadas), Mangaluru (2009), Kashinath Shambha Loliyenkar, Goa (2010),P N Shivananda Shenoy, Cochin (2011), Rajay Pawar, Goa (2012),Yousuf A Sheikh, Goa (2013), Iqbal Sayeedi, Bhatkal (2014) were the past recipients of the annual Kavita Trust award.