Margao: Konkani Scholar, Jnanpith Awardee, Ravindra Kelekar, Passes Away
Daijiworld Media Network – Margao (SP)
Margao, Aug 27: Leading Konkani scholar, linguist, Gandhian and creative thinker, Ravindra Kelekar, passed away at Apollo Hospital here at around 11.30 am on Friday August 27. He was 85.
Born on March 25, 1925 at Cuncolim in South Goa, Kelekar was influenced by the Gandhian thoughts, and had actively been involved with freedom struggle and Goa liberation movement. Although he also wrote in Marathi and Hindi, his contributions for the growth of Konkani were immense. He was always in the forefront of Konkani movement. He is considered the pioneer of modern Konkani movement.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presented the Jnanpith Award on July 31, 2010.
At Mardol, Goa, India at the ancestral house of the Kelekars in May 2005.
He played a key role in the setting up of Konkani Bhasha Mandal and was largely responsible for the reinstatement of Konkani as the state language of Goa. His great works include ‘Amcha Bhas Konkaneech’ and ‘Shalent Konkani Kityak?’.
He won the Jnanpith Award for the year 2006, and received the same in July this year from Lok Sabha speaker, Meira Kumar. He was honoured with several awards, including Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. Of late, age-related complications had caught up with him.