Chandrakant Keni, eminent Konkani writer, Sahitya award winner and former editor of erstwhile Marathi daily "Rashtramat" and Konkani daily "Sunaparant", expired at 5.45 am today i.e. February 3, 2009, at the Vintage Hospital in Margao, Goa.
Mr Keni, who was ailing for some time, was in his early seventies. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters. The funeral will be held at 3 pm this afternoon at the Margao crematorium.
The last public appearance he made was at the launch of the book on Saraswats which was compiled by him.
Mr. Keni wrote short stories in Konkani, Marathi and Hindi and was long been a powerful voice in the Konkani movement. Some of the 50 books he wrote has won state and national awards, including two of them from the Sahitya Academi.
Keni showed a touch of profession in his essays. His writings are marked by simplicity, clarity and have a certain topical character. He exposed a problem with all its ramifications but never imposed a clear-cut, ready-made solution. He provoked, suggested and asserted but was rarely dogmatic. When he was serious he was not pedantic and gave a personal touch to his essays to illustrate a point all the better.
Keni's topical essays in the column "Lharar Lhar" (Wave upon wave)in the daily 'Sunaparant' were highly readable.
Keni has to his credit 'Bimbam Paddbimbam' and 'Toretorechim Sonvgam'. In Toretorechim Sonvgam (Characters), Keni narrates anectodes and sketches memorable pen-portraits. Unlike other writers, Keni's characters are not necessarily Goan. They belong to the whole of India or to the whole world. Keni was not obsessed with regionalism. His essays and stories have a touch of Universality.
Mr Keni, who was ailing for some time, was in his early seventies. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters. The funeral will be held at 3 pm this afternoon at the Margao crematorium.
The last public appearance he made was at the launch of the book on Saraswats which was compiled by him.
Mr. Keni wrote short stories in Konkani, Marathi and Hindi and was long been a powerful voice in the Konkani movement. Some of the 50 books he wrote has won state and national awards, including two of them from the Sahitya Academi.
Keni showed a touch of profession in his essays. His writings are marked by simplicity, clarity and have a certain topical character. He exposed a problem with all its ramifications but never imposed a clear-cut, ready-made solution. He provoked, suggested and asserted but was rarely dogmatic. When he was serious he was not pedantic and gave a personal touch to his essays to illustrate a point all the better.
Keni's topical essays in the column "Lharar Lhar" (Wave upon wave)in the daily 'Sunaparant' were highly readable.
Keni has to his credit 'Bimbam Paddbimbam' and 'Toretorechim Sonvgam'. In Toretorechim Sonvgam (Characters), Keni narrates anectodes and sketches memorable pen-portraits. Unlike other writers, Keni's characters are not necessarily Goan. They belong to the whole of India or to the whole world. Keni was not obsessed with regionalism. His essays and stories have a touch of Universality.
