Cites five years of hard intellectual work
Mukesh Thali
PANAJI
Five years of hard, intellectual work is what it took him to pen the essays which were published by Anand Prakashan in 2019 but Mukesh Thali is elated that 'Rangtarang' has won him the mother of all literary recognitions -- Sahitya Akademi award.
Speaking to The Goan, Thali said, the essays are varied -- descriptive, philosophical, travelogues, etc.
A Konkani writer, translator and lexicographer, Thali was named this year's winner by the Sahitya Akademi on Wednesday for 'Rangtarang'
He has been a journalist working with the All India Radio's Panaji station for over 30 years. He superannuated from service last year and was known to have elevated the Konkani news with his unique voice.
He also has four other books published and his 'Doremifa' and 'Sarenisa' won awards at Kala Academy's Konkani Drama Competition. He has co-authored the Konkani-English dictionary and also worked as a research assistant in the Department of Konkani Encyclopedia of Goa University for six years.
He is better known as a witty moderator and interviewer.
Thali feels that there is a dire need to bring forth more depth in Konkani literature which could be in any genre.
"There is a dearth of original Konkani serious plays that could fill the gap of experimental theatre," Thali said in a brief conversation with The Goan.
More reading helps strengthen abilities and skills he says while advocating for artistic and lucid flow of words in sentences.
"Writing difficult is quite easy. Writing easy is difficult. Seamless flow attracts the attention of the reader instantly. Of course, there are good writers experimenting innovative styles and maintaining quality and quantity in their styles," he said.
On the controversy of the script divide in the Konkani literary world which has re-ignited recently, Thali says: "Changing the law is not easy. That's that."
Thali however said that he regularly writes for Gulab – the journalistic glossary -- in English and Konkani.
"In my childhood too I wrote for 'Uzvaad' the then Roman Konkani daily. As a multi-lingual writer I write in Marathi, English and Hindi too," he adds.
