Noted Konkani writer Chandrakant Keni no more

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-04
MARGAO - The celebrated writer and journalist, Chandrakant Keni, who left a lasting impression through his rich contributions towards the state, in the post-Liberation era, passed away in Margao on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 75.
A champion of the Konkani language, late Keni had been closely associated with the freedom struggle of the territory from Portuguese colonialism.
The founder editor of now defunct ‘Rashtramat’ as well as the first Konkani daily in the state, ‘Sunaparant’, late Keni was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer who wrote in Konkani, Marathi and English. Keni played an important role in the Opinion Poll, which resulted in protecting the identity of the region, and also had a lion’s share in the 1986 language agitation that provided official status of the state language to Konkani. He was also instrumental in according the Statehood to Goa.
Keni was also associated with a number of institutions during his lifetime including the state NRI Cell, Institute Menezes Braganza, Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Goa Konkani Akademi, Partagali Mutt Samiti and so on and worked tirelessly for taking these bodies to greater heights. The many awards bestowed on Keni included Sahitya Akademi award for his novel ‘Vhokal Pavni’ (Farewell to Bride), and the National Award for Journalism (1995), apart from the Dr TMA Pai Foundation Literary Award (1990), the Goa State Literary award on three occasions and the Goa State Cultural award (1997). Gomant Sharada Puraskar, the highest state award for literature instituted by Kala Academy was also presented to Keni. The celebrated writer was also the president of the 11th All India Konkani Sahitya Parishad held at Mangalore in 1976.
In his ‘Toretorechim Savangam’ (Characters), Keni narrated interesting anecdotes and sketches through memorable pen-portraits. Apart from novels and short stories, the writer also came out with research articles on Goa and Goan history. In fact, one of the last public functions attended by the celebrated writer saw the acclaimed film director, Shyam Benegal releasing ‘The Saraswats’, a compilation of facts and documents on the community collected from various sources and edited by Keni.
Keni is survived by his wife, Ms Vinodini and two married daughters, Ms Urvija and Ms Pradnya. The funeral of the celebrated writer, held in the evening saw thousands of people turning up to bid tearful adieus to him. Earlier, people from all across the state including ministers, MLAs, industrialists, literary persons and journalists visited his residence to pay their homage to the departed soul. Prominent among them included the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, the Minister for Public Works Department, Mr Churchill Alemao, Curtorim MLA, Mr Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenço and Fatorda MLA, Mr Damodar Naik among others.
The state legislative assembly on Tuesday paid homage to the departed Konkani writer with the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat observing that Keni was one of the important persons who made contributions for shaping the future of Goa. “His role as an editor and writer would always be remembered by one and all,” he added.
The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, speaking on the occasion said that Keni, during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s government in the state, made substantial contribution towards strengthening the NRI Cell. “He worked very hard to give a concrete shape to the NRI Cell even though health was failing him,” he pointed out.
The Speaker of the state legislative assembly, Mr Pratapsingh Rane remembered the work of Keni as the vice-president of the Institute Menezes Braganza. Describing Keni as a well-known citizen of Goa who knew everybody and whom everybody knew; Mr Rane said that the Konkani writer served to protect the identity of Goa and Goans.
Meanwhile, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal has deeply condoled the death of Keni. A press statement issued by the KBM president, Mr Prashant Naik has recalled the great contributions made by the celebrated Konkani writer during the Opinion Poll struggle in 1966-67. “It would have been difficult to maintain Goa’s separate identity and Goa would have been a part of Maharashtra if people like Chandrakant Keni and others had succumbed to the pressures of those in power,” he added.
Recalling the contribution of the celebrated writer in the Konkani literary movement of Goa, Mr Naik stated that the Konkani magazine ‘Kulagar’ founded and edited by Keni was instrumental in giving a platform to several budding writers. “The KBM also salutes Keni for the dedicated work put in by him in getting recognition to Konkani language in the eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution, in getting it the official language status in Goa and also for his work in attaining Statehood for Goa,” the press note pointed out.
The Rajya Sabha MP and the president of All India Konkani Parishad, Mr Shantaram Naik in a statement issued from Mumbai has condoled the sad demise of the veteran Konkani writer and said that Goa has lost one of the stalwarts who played a historic role in maintaining Goa’s separate identity. Mr Naik, on a personal note, said that it is Keni’s encouragement that prompted him to write countless letters and articles in the daily ‘Rashtramat’ based on political and social issues, which ultimately became his (Mr Naik’s) stepping stone in the political arena.
Ms Madhvi Sardessai who also was closely associated with Keni said he was a pioneer in short stories. Ms Sardessai who is a senior lecturer at the department of Konkani, Goa University, recollected his contributions as editor of ‘Rashtramat.’ She said besides training several journalists in Konkani, Keni was also responsible for bringing the Hindu diaspora from Karnataka and Kerala into the mainstream of Konkani movement in Goa.