Ravindra Kelekar passes away

Konkani litterateur and Jnanpith Award winner Ravindra R. Kelekar, 85, died at a hospital at Margao on Friday,  August 28, after a brief illness. He is survived by son Girish and his family.

The mortal remains will be consigned to the flames with full State honours at his native village of Priol in south Goa, around 18 km from Panaji, on Saturday, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said.

As a mark of respect, the State government announced a public holiday for half a day on Friday and for the whole day of Saturday.

Ravindra Kelekar was born on March 25, 1925 at Cuncolim in south Goa. Influenced by the Gandhian thoughts, he was actively involved in the freedom struggle and the Goa liberation movement. Though he also wrote in Marathi and Hindi, his contributions to the growth of Konkani were immense. He was always at the forefront of the Konkani movement. He fought several battles to seek recognition of the Konkani language.

Full report here Hindu