Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Konkani luminary Ravindra Kelekar

Intellectual recluse who weaves motifs of the pantheon of Indian literature Ravindra Kelekar'affectionately known as Ravindrabab in the Konkani world'enjoys a unique halo as a Konkani luminary. More than being an outstanding writer, he has been an unstinting fighter to the core. An early activist in the manifold struggles for Goa including the liberation movement, the anti-merger campaign, the literary campaign for the recognition for Konkani as a full-fledged language, and above all, the reinstatement of Konkani to the pride of place as the state language of Goa, Ravindrabab has always been at the vanguard of the battle armed with Gandhian conviction and democratic values. As such, the virtues of egalitarian humanism, ethical probity, spirit of justice and secularism are inherent to his progressive mindset, his constructive activism and his bold espousal of truth.

Beginning as a unique historical awakening among the dispersed Konkani diaspora, the Konkani movement in the just-liberated Goa in the early 1960's branched out simultaneously into a linguistic revival, a literary renaissance and a socio-political campaign against Goa's intended merger with Maharashtra. This has been an epoch of unmitigated strife, setbacks and resilience with its own share of triumphs and tribulations in which Ravindrabab has had, with a handful of like-minded comrades, the lion's share.

Full report here Times of India 

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