V.J.P Saldanha

Vincent John Peter Saldanha was an Indian Konkani language literateur, dramatist, novelist, short story writer and poet. He made significant contibution to Konkani literature as a poet, dramatist and novelist. His pen name is “khadap”. Saldanha was born on 9th June 1925 in Vamanjur, Mangalore. Martin Ligoury and Teresa Saldanha were his parents. Saldanha completed his education at St.Joseph’s Higher Elementary School and St.Aloysius College. He was very popular in writing and staging skits and short plays in school. After his studies he took up a job as a physical instructor and a teacher of English at the Padua High school in Mangalore. Later he migrated to Bombay. With his good command on English and handwriting skils he was offerd job. But he resigned the job and return to Mangalore. Saldanha started and edited a Kannada paper “Kannadavani”. He published his first six page konkani weekly “Poinnari”. He was founder editor of “Poinnari” and “Amar Konkani” magazine.

Literature
Saldanha had written books on the sufferings endured by the Mangalorean catholics during the rule of Tipu Sultan and Goa Inquisition. He also authored few detective novels such as “Torichi Dal, Tambaddi Pitul, Ruzvaat, Pet ani Palane, Moga makha Shikay which are famous. His best Known historical novels are “Belthangaddicho Balthazar, Devachae Krupen, Sardarachi Sinol, Bandhadentle Balidan, Vanjelache Vater, Sardarachem Sannidan”. He was also a poet and his best known poem was “Konkanche Shethkaar”.

Honours
V.J.P. Saldanha was the first president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy(1994).He was the president of Akhil Bharath Konkani Parishad (1982). He is honouerd with “Konkani Kala Bhushan”.