PANAJI
Governor of Goa P S Sreedharan Pillai presented the 57th Jnanpith Award to eminent Konkani litterateur Damodar Mauzo at a function at Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula on Saturday.
Expressing happiness that such a celebration is being held at Raj Bhavan, Governor Pillai said, “pen is mightier than the sword as it has the power to change the society. Mauzo has been effectively bringing such change in the society through his writing and that’s why he has been honoured with the literary award”.
Speaking further, the Governor said “the ancient Indian literature has a very long history. It is as old as the civilisation. The great epics describing our rich cultural heritage, Ramayana and Mahabharat have inspired many generations, and have weaved the social fabric of the country in one thread. Mauzo’s literature also brings the society together”.
Mauzo has been the second Goan to receive this honour. In 2008, Ravindra Kelekar was awarded Jnanpith Puraskar.
Mauzo’s 25 books are published in Konkani and one in English. Many of his books have been translated in various languages. He has been the recipient of multiple awards.
His Carmelin novel published in 1981 had received the Sahitya Academy Puraskar and has been translated in Hindi, Marathi, English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Oriya and Maithili languages.
The event was attended by songwriter Gulzar, Bharatiya Jnanpith chairperson Virendra Jain and Jnanpith Selection Committee’s Pratibha Ray, Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude among others.
Lauding Mauzo’s efforts, Gaude said language has no barriers.
“Mauzo has been expressing his emotions through the language that he learnt in his formative years and reaching out his literary works to the world. The award that he received is the honour for our State. Such honours will inspire budding writers”, he said.
Gulzar also hailed Mauzo saying he has never cut his umbilical ties with his soil, society, language and people.
“He is closely in touch with the society. He has been continuously expressing the reality in the society through his literary works”, he said.
