PANAJI
The preservation of the Konkani language, literature and culture, along with recognising those who have contributed to its growth, remains a key responsibility. The Konkani Akademi has announced the Konkani Sahitya Puraskar and Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar for 2025 and 2026 to honour writers, artists, institutions and language activists. The awards will be presented on 20 August 2026 on the occasion of Konkani Rashtramanyatay Dis.
For 2025, the Konkani Sahitya Puraskar, carrying a cash prize of Rs 25,000, memento, certificate and shawl, will be presented for poetry to Chetan Acharya for Yadincho Ganv; short story/novel to Vaman Govind Takekar for Vidvat; drama to Deepraj Satardekar for Saran Jaltana; essay/travelogue to Abhaykumar Velingkar for Kateganga; research and literary criticism to Dr Bhushan Bhave for Khan Vyevasayacher Adharit Sahitya: Samajshastra Chikitsa; children’s literature to Shradha Garad for Mankuli Ani Shist; translation to Amita Aagshikar for Jagaveglo; and the award for a Konkani writer outside Goa to Sten Aagera from Mangaluru, Karnataka, for Dhapli Ghadita.
The Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar for 2025 will be awarded to Pundalik Narayan Naik (Sahitya Pratibha Award), Dr Jayanti Naik (Sahitya Pradnya Award), Chetan Khedekar and Roman Rodriguies (Yuva Chaitanya Award), Mahesh Divkar (Konkani Prasar Madhyamaat Kaushallya Award), R.B.S. Komarpant (Shenoi Goembab Konkani Bhasha Seva Award), Chandrashekar Shenoi (Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Konkani Bhasha Seva Award), C. Dsilva (Konkani Kala Seva Award), Jhon Aguier (Konkani Digital Kala Seva Award), and Divchal Konkani Seva Kendra, Divchal, Goa (Konkani Seva Saustha Award). These awards carry cash prizes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, along with mementoes, certificates and shawls.
For 2026, the Konkani Sahitya Puraskar will be presented to Sameer Zatye for poetry (Hanv Vachunk Sodta Mhaji Valakh), Agust Barreto for short story/novel (Mummy), Sushant Laxmikant Nayak for drama (Home Minister), H. Manoj for essay/travelogue (Shay Ani Antardrishti), Priyadarshani Tadkodkar for research and criticism (Konkani Champu Kavya. Gayatri Devi: Bhov Ani Prabhav), Filomena Sanfrancisco for children’s literature (Mintu Karta Majja), Snehlata Bhatikar for translation (Haji Alichi Fulkann Ani Heir Kaniyo), and Sandesh Shri Bandekar from Karwar, Karnataka, for the award for a Konkani writer outside Goa (Amgel Karwar).
The Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar for 2026 will honour Devidas Kadam (Sahitya Pratibha Award), Bhalchandra Gaonkar (Sahitya Pradnya Award), Shalaka Desaai and Rajat Hegde (Yuva Chaitanya Award), Loukik Shilkar (Konkani Prasar Madhyamaat Kaushallya Award), Ulhas Yashwant Naik (Shenoi Goembab Konkani Bhasha Seva Award), T.R. Sadanand Bhat (Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Konkani Bhasha Seva Award), Price Jackab (Konkani Kala Seva Award), Mahim Bhandari (Konkani Digital Kala Seva Award), and Antruj Ghudyo from Bandora, Ponda (Konkani Seva Saustha Award). The awards carry cash prizes between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, along with mementoes, certificates and shawls.
