Manohar Rao Sardesai

Dr. Manohar Rao Sardesai was a Konkani poet, writer and French translator from Goa. He was son of eminent short story writer Lakshmanrao Sardesai. Manohar Rao Sardesai was born on 18th January 1925 in Panjim, Goa. He passed his matriculation examination from Bhatikar Model High School in Margao. He successfully completed his Master of Arts degree in Marathi and French. He taught French in University of Bombay and the University of Goa. He obtained his Doctorate in 1958 from University of Sorbone, Paris. Sardesai broadcast songs, poems, talks, play on All India Radio in Panjim, Goa and Doordarshan in Bombay.

Literary Works
Notable collections of Manohar Sardesai poems are Ayj Re Dholar Podli Bodi (1961), Goema Tujya Mogakhatir (1964), Jayat Jage (1964), Jay Punyabhui, Jay Bharat (1965), Bebyachem Kazar (1965), Jayo Juyo (1970) and Pisollim (1979). He also edited an anthology of poems for the Sahitya Akademy, Delhi and published several works of prose, drama and childrens literature. He translated many works from French to Konkani. The translation of ‘la Vie de Vivekananda’ by Romain Rolland in 1994 (Vivekananda) and ‘Les Mots’ by Jean Paul Sartre in 2000 (Utram) comprise some of his works. He also wrote the Konkani – English Dictionary in 2004 and was Chief Editor for the four – volumes of Konkani Encyclopedia, published by Goa University in 1999.

Awards and Honours
Dr. Sardesai won the Sahitya Akademy, Delhi for “Pisollim”. He chaired the 8th season of the All India Konkani Parishad and became President of Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Goa. He was life member of Alliance Francaise of Goa and founder president of the University Teachers Association, Goa. The French Government honoured him with the title “Chevalier de I’Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 1988. He received his Doctorat es lettres francaises for his thesis “L’image de l’lnde en France from the University of Sorbonne.