Laxman Rao Sardesai

Laxman Rao Sardesai, a Goan poet and short-story writer was considered as one of the finest writers in the Marathi language. He also wrote prose and verse in Konkani and Portuguese. Sardesai was born on 18-03-1904 in Savoi-Verem and died in 1986. He lived, therefore, through the times of the Portuguese and the post liberation Indian government. He persued his education in Marathi. Later he joined Portuguese School and did 7 years course. After completing his degree he opened a Portuguese medium School in Mapusa.

Literature
His writings which include over 700 stories in Marathi, provide a spectrum of Goa over the twentieth century. “Mandovi Tum Aattlis” is his only published Konkani novel in 1947. Some of his Portuguese poems are translated by his son Manohar Rao Saradesai. Laxman Rao Sardesai has translated Portuguese novel ‘Os Brahamanes’ written by Francisco Gomes as Brahmann (1973) and French classic ‘L’Estranger’ written by Camus as “Jaga vegalla”(1958).

Honour
He was awarded with Sahitya Academy Award in 1982 for his amazing collection of 16 essays “Khabri”. In 2008 Sahitya Academy Published a monograph on Laxman Rao Sardesai authored by Prakash Thali. A special Diwali issue of “Jag” was published in his honour for his birth centenary year 2004.