PANAJI
The Goa government offers subsidy and financial assistance to publish books of Goan authors and budding writers. "But, there are very few schemes for the translated works," mentioned Arvind Bhatikar. Speaking at an event of the publication of the translated version of veteran Goan writer Damodar Mauzo’s book ‘The Wait and Other Stories’, Bhatikar pointed out that offering grants to the Department of Art and Culture, Institute Menezes Braganza, Konkani Akademi to motivate them to work in literary translations is the need of the hour.The translated version of veteran Goan writer Damodar Mauzo’s book ‘The Wait and Other Stories’ was recently published in the presence of Arvind Bhatikar, Xavior Cota, Jerry Pinto and Prashanti Talpankar. In his interaction with Prashanti Talpankar on the occasion, Mauzo stated that it was while providing the essential commodities to the public, that he tried to know their world, which, in turn, opened up Pandora's box before the writer in him. "It helped me enrich my own understanding of the issues people face in their lives and I could shape my stories on their basis. Interacting with common people matured my writing skills," said Mauzo, whose book has been translated by Xavior Cota.
Goa has good writers who contribute in all literary forms, however, since these works are in Konkani, the readership is limited and only those who know Konkani can read these books. But if they are translated into other languages, readers from other languages can enjoy them too, said Bhatikar. “If these translated works from Konkani reach other language readers, other States, then only it can have a national and international readership and recognition,'' concluded Bhatikar.
