Mangalore: Kannik Founder-Editor Raymond Miranda Passes Away
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, Feb 3: Well-known writer in Mangalore and Mumbai, Raymond Miranda who was also the founder-editor of Kannik monthly passed away in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday February 1.
He was born in Kinnigoly on June 17, 1931 to the late John Francis and Joanna Miranda couple. He started his education at Pejavar (Pezar) primary school. He joined St Aloysius High School and St. Aloysius College (B Com). He became a Chartered Accountant (C A), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Economics and also Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He had also passed the Hindi Visharad (was like a B.A. in Hindi in 1950s).
When Konkani journalism was not a rosy, profitable proposition and too risky, his love for the language made him go into the publication business boldly. He founded 'Kathanjelo' as a monthly and later on as a fortnightly, published from Mangalore and for sometime from Bajpe, under the banner of “Konkani Sahity Prakashan”. He was its editor too in order to provide Konkani readers a chance to read fiction and other type of literature in book-form, and also to give budding writers a chance to show their originality or translation skills. His younger brother Gilbert Miranda was the associate editor of the publication. Raymond Miranda established the Book-a-Month Club in Konkani providing Konkani literature every month and delivering it at their doorsteps.
His magnum opus was' Patyenecho Ist ' in three big volumes using good quality paper, a real feat in Konkani at that time. It was the first instance in Konkani language that copy right material from abroad was published with the permission of the right holder. He also got authorization to translate and publish in Konkani other copyrighted material. The enterprise had to be closed as he planned to go abroad. On his return some years later, on September 8, 1965 he co-founded with Andrew Mendonca - 'Kannik' monthly published from Bombay and was its first editor.
He managed to get permission for the Indian reprints of copyright books from the USA, in English. Besides being a linguist, he knew Sanskrit, French and Hindi, and an author of note in Konkani, he also used to write articles to the periodicals on various issues including current affairs.
He will be remembered for his literary talents, generosity and strong family values.
Obituary: