GOVERNMENT DECLARES BHASHA PURASKAR July 6, 2020 Asadha 15,1942

The Government of gives ‘Bhasha Puraskar’ to a personality who has dedicated his scholastic work in three languages viz. Konkani, Marathi and . The awards are given in the name of Dnyanpeeth awardee Ravindra Kelekar Konkani Bhasha Puraskar, B. D. Satoskar Marathi Bhasha Puraskar and Durgaram Upadhe Sanskrit Bhasha Puraskar. The Dnyanpeeth Awardee Ravindra Kelekar Konkani Bhasha Puraskar for the year 2018-19 has been declared to Adv. Uday Laxmikant Bhembre, B. D. Satoskar Marathi Bhasha Puraskar has been declared to Shri Pundalik Shivram Narvekar, while Durgaram Upadhe Sanskrit Puraskar has been declared to Shri Devadatta Govind Patil. The Award consists of Manapatra, Memento and cash amount of Rs. 1.00 lakh each. The award will be presented to the awardees in a special function. Nominations were invited earlier from individuals as well as institutions. A Committee of Experts was constituted by the Government to select the awardees. The committee consisted of Dr. Somnath Komarpanth, Shri. Damodar Mauzo, Shri Laxman Pitre, President of , Director of Official Language and Assistant Director of Official Language. The above awardees were recommended unanimously. DI/NB/PN/JS/2020/187

-- DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY. THIRD FLOOR,UDYOG BHAVAN, NEAR AZAD MAIDAN, GOA Introduction of Selected Awardees:

Adv. Uday Laxmikant Bhembre (Dnyanpeeth awardee Ravindra Keleker Konkani Bhasha Puraskar) Mr. Bhembre was born in Zambaulim, a village in South Goa, Adv. Uday Laxmikant Bhembre is an Indian lawyer, Konkani writer and former Member of . He is noted for his role as the editor of Konkani daily and as a activist. Bhembre is also widely known as lyricist of the famed Goan Konkani language song ‘Channeache Rati.’

He is the son of eminent Goan freedom fighter Shri. Laxmikant Bhembre.

After his early education in Goa, Bhembre went to Bombay in 1957 for pursuing higher education. Bhembre is an alumnus of ’s Siddharth College. He joined Mumbai’s Akashvani centre and became a lyricist.

Bhembre has been a vociferous advocate for the cause of Konkani language. He played a major role in various movements related to the language.

In Goa Opinion Poll, he campaigned against Goa’s merger into . At that time, Bhembre authored a column in the popular anti-merger Marathi newspaper Rashtramat. In his column titled “Brahmastra”, Uday Bhembre campaigned for the anti-merger camp and his column played a great role in influencing in supporting the anti merger camp.

Bhembre was also a leader of the Konkani language agitation and he played a vital role in the movement which led to the enactment of the Goa, Daman & Diu Official Language Act 1987. This act made Konkani as the Official Language of Goa.

Bhembre also played an important role in Konkani’s inclusion to the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution and in granting Sahitya Academi’s recognition to Konkani as an independent language. Uday Bhembre was also the President of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal.

Mr. Bhembre took a break from creative writing in order to take ahead the Konkani movement at social and organisational level. Bhembre’s articles in Rashtramat have been compiled into a book titled ‘Brahmastra’. A collection of his select poems and songs has also been published.

Awards and Honours: Bhembre was awarded the Kullagar Puraskar (1999), Gundu Sitaram Amonkar Memorial Award (2001), Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Patrakarita Puraskar (2008), Bhangrallem Goem Asmitai Puraskar (2014). Uday Bhembre has been honoured with the Award in Konkani language for the year 2015 for his play ‘Karn Parv.’ He has been appointed as the Chair Professor of Poet Bakibab Borkar Chair of .

Shri Pundalik Shivram Narvekar: (B.D. Satoskrar Marathi Bhasha Puraskar)

Born on 30th June 1925, Shri Pundalik Shivram Narvekar has been contributing to the Marathi literature for the last 70 years. He is popular amongst people as a famous Goan story writer, critic, cartoonist, artist, etc.

Reading and creation of new literature is his passion. He started a monthly by name “Prata:kaal”. Story writing is his favourite subject. He published his stories in Sunday issues of the local dailies such as ‘Navaprabha’, ‘Gomantak’, ‘Rashtramat’, ‘Tarun Bharat’, etc. His stories were also published in the periodicals like ‘Gomantakachi Asmita’, ‘Maitr’, Miti’, ‘Urjita’ and ‘Kinara’. The prominent picture of Goa’s freedom struggle, the changing social scenario of Goa reflects in his stories. However, he does not have a thirst towards experimentation. He has consistently stressed on ideological and literary issues. He was columnist of daily Navaprabha. His love towards and literature is memorable part of his life.

His four story books “Vighnaharta” (1986), “Mrigjal” (1989), “Kalandar” (1999) and “Blackist” (2008) have been published so far. Besides this, his book “Aashadhdhara” (2009), a collection of essays, has also been published. “Navamichya Madhyaratri” (1999) is his maiden historical drama book. He is fond of the epics Ramayana and . He wrote creative reviews on the different characters of Mahabharata which later published in a book form namely ‘Dhyutchakra’. Besides this, he has published a book ‘Sharadbabunchya Nayika’ based on the depiction of women in the novels of Sharadchandra Chatarjee. Recently, book on his different aspects of literary contemplations and ideological articles namely ‘Pravah’ has been published. All these books show his passion towards Marathi literature.

Different institutions and Government also has taken cognizance of his dedication and contribution to the Marathi language. His story book “Vighnaharta” was published by the Gomantak Publications as their own publication. His book “Mrigjal” received the prestigious G.A. Kulkarni award of ‘Pragtik Vicharmanch.’ The books “Kalandar” and ‘Sharadbabunchya Nayika’ received an award of ‘Gomant Vidya Niketan.’ also honoured his missionary dedication to Marathi literature by awarding the prestigious State award. He also worked as the member of the writer’s panel for preparing the book “Ramayan-Mahabharatatil katha” under the adult education scheme.

His ceaseless service towards Marathi literature was honoured by the Gomantak Marathi Academy by offering him honorary membership in 1994. He was the President of the sixth Progressive Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held at Talauli, Goa in 1995 and President of the 27th Gomantak Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held at Marcel, Goa in 2009. Today, even at the age of 93 years, his work for the progress and development of Marathi language is still continued.

Shri. Devadatt Govind Patil (Durgaram Upadhe Sanskrit Bhasha Puraskar)

Shri. Devadatt Govind Patil has achieved the degree of “Mahamahopadhyaya” (D.Lit.). He is the first scholar to achieve this degree at such an early age. He has contributed in the field of Sanskrit language through teaching and literature. He is the convener of Subrahmanya Vakyartha Sabha in Pune.

He runs Sanskrit schools (Gurukulas) in a traditional style in Goa and Pune where students attain mastery over Vyakarana, Nyaya Shastra and Purva Mimansa. Even many Ayurvedic Doctors, Engineers and Lawyers seek education of Sanskrit from these institutions. Presently, he has more than 30 students at Pune and Goa. He takes every effort to safeguard the existence of Sanskrit language.

Awards Received:

His work for the development of Sanskrit has been acknowledged by several organisations among which prominent are:

 “Badarayan Vyas Sanman” at the hands of Hon’ble former President of Dr. Abdul P.J. Kalam, (2003).  “Swarnangiliyaka Puraskar” in the holy hands of Jagadguru Mahaswamiji of Srungeri Muth (2003).  “Peetharohan Swarnmahaotsav Puraskar” of Shree Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (2003).  “Pt. Dhundiraj Shastri Date Puraskar”, Solapur, (2005).  “Purushottam Puraskar” Sangli, (2007).  “Shastrapayonidhi Puraskar” of Vedashastra Prabodhan Samitee of Dharwad, sposored by Bhalchandra Shastri (2010).  “Adhokshaja Prashasthi Puraskar” of Pejawar Muth, Bangalore,(2010).  “Pt. Raghunath Shastri Hardikar Puraskar”, Pune, ( 2010).  “Sushmindra Prashasthi Puraskar” of Mantralya Muth, Mantralaya, (2011).  “Pt. Latkar Puraskar”, Mulund, (2011).  “Vedavyasa Puraskar” of Vidhya Sahakari Bank, Pune, (2012).  “Kane Maharaj Puraskar”, Belgaum, (2013).  “Tarkvagish” degree and “Aasthan Vidwan with Swarna Kankana” of Badari Shreevidhyapeeth, Shakatpur, (2013).  “Matrumandir Puraskar”, Nigadi, Pune, (2014).  “Matunga Shankar Muth Puraskar” (2014).  “Sanskrit Pandit Puraskar” of Government of Maharashtra, 2014.  “Mahamahopadhyaya” (D.Lit.) from Lalbahadur Vidhyapeeth, Delhi. Youngest scholar to receive this degree at an early age. (2015).  “Aasthan Vidvan Aavani” of Shankar Muth, Bangalore, (2016).  “Nanasaheb Peshawe Sanman”, Sarasbaug, Pune, (2018).  “Shastranidhi Sanman” Vadhut Dattapi, Mysore, (2019). Publications:

By adopting the modern portrait style, he published a book in the year 2014 on Nyayashastra titled as “Vyakhya Vidhyadhari”. He published a logical Balbodha Vyakhyana through Audio Visual medium.

Participation: He has participated in several ‘Shastrasabhas’ organised by all ‘Peethas.’ He frequently participated in the discourses, seminars, trainings, workshops organised by the Rashtriya Sanskrit Saunsthan, Delhi Vishwa Vidyalya, Indira Gandhi Pragatadhyan Kendra, Pune Vishwavidyalaya, Lalbahadur Sanskrit Vishwavidhyalaya, Madras Vishwavidyalaya, etc.

Teaching:-

Taught in Shri Nrusimha Saraswati Pathshala, Pune for 16 years. Expertised students in the Shastras such as Nyayashastra, Mimansa etc. Membership:

Member of the Sanskrit Parishad of Ministry of Human Resource Development of Government of India.

Other Work: Established Shree Subrahmanya Aarsh Vidhya Parishad at Pune in 2000 and through it continuously organised ‘Masik Sabhas’ till 2015, with a motive to encourage students.

Scholars all over India participated in the ‘Mahasabhas’ organised by him in 2001, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.