Goan writer Thali bags Sahitya award

Panaji: The Sahitya Akademi award was declared on Wednesday for noted Konkani writer, lexicographer and playwright Mukesh Thali for his book ‘Ranga Tarang’. After winning the award, Thali said, “I am a committed servant of Konkani’, who has been writing consistently since childhood.”

At an early age, he received guidance from Jnanpith awardee Ravindra Kelekar, who was based in Thali’s maternal village of Priol. tnn

“He groomed me well by handing me world classics to read. I got an opportunity from the time I was in school to meet stalwarts like Bakibab Borkar, Manohar Rai Sardesai and others’ writing in Marathi and Hindi who visited him. My village was also so rich in biodiversity. It shaped the writer in me. My grandfather also was a well-known percussionist and acted in plays. All these aspects made me like a colourful chemical,” Thali said.



“Designing a literary piece is like constructing a temple. I look at literature from this perspective. There is an innate serenity and tranquility, peace and coolness in the temple. Entering a temple itself gives us a sense of contentment instantly. Though my essay has a lining of positivity, in my dramas, if at all the plot is serious, I ensure that it must give pure joy to its artistic presentation,” Thali told TOI.

Like ‘Rang Tarang’, he has five other compilations of essays to his credit ‘Velsar’, ‘Hansdhwani’, ‘Jeevangandh’, ‘Aksharbrahm’, ‘Shivranjani’, besides the play ‘Do re ma fa – Sa re ni sa’.

“I accord top priority first to develop humanness in me, to be a better person first and then to see to it that writerness in me grows steadily every day,” said Thali, who has translated 60 other fictional works in Konkani and is also a prolific Marathi writer.

He worked as research assistant in Goa University for six years before joining radio in 1993.



He is co-author of the Konkani-English Dictionary and has won Goa Konkani Akademi and Goa Kala Academy State awards for the book ‘Hansdhwani’ earlier. Thali has also presented papers at various national seminars.


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