Manohar Rai Sardesai Writer
Dr. Manoharrai Sardesai is a Konkani and French poet/writer from Goa, India. He earned his Docteur des Lettres Françaises for his thesis "L'image de l'Inde en France". He has been credited for an upsurge of modern Konkani poetry.Dr. Manoharrai Sardesai was born on 18 January 1925. He obtained a First Class First in Bachelor of Arts from the Bombay University in 1947. He successfully completed his Master of Arts, also with the First Class First in French and in Marathi from the same University in 1949. He obtained his Doctorate in French Literature in 1958 from the Sorbonne University, Paris and taught French in several colleges in Bombay at the Bambay University and at the Goa University.He was son of the eminent short story writer Lakshanrao Sardesai. Being Surrounded by books it is no wonder that he started wielding the pen at an early age and was known for his poems in Konkani, which go straight to the heart of the reader.Dr. Sardesai has broadcast songs, poems, talks, plays and features for All India Radio - Panaji, Goa, Bombay, Pune for Doordarshan - Bambay; and for TV - Paris. He has travelled all over Europe and India and has written in Konkani, English, French, Portuguese and Marathi. He was a member of the executive board, Sahitya Academy and also wrote for the National Book Trust of India. He has translated many works from French into Konkani. The translations 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 produced the Konkani - English Dictionary in 2004.The French Government honored him in 1988 with the title "Chevalier de L'Ordre des Palmes Academiques" for his services in the spread of the French language and culture. Dr. Manoharrai has also won many awards in the State of Goa, for his contributions in the form of lyrics, poems and in the teaching profession.He was a Life Member of "Alliance Francaise de Goa" and Founder President of the University Teachers' Association, Goa. Dr. Sardesai was also the Chief Editor of the Konkani Encyclopaedia (Goa University).He was Prasident of Konakani Bhasha Mandal, Goa.