Jayamala Danait bags Sahitya Academy award for Translation
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 15 February 2016 16:53 IST
Jayamala Danait, a prolific Konkani writer, has bagged this year’s Sahitya Academy translation award 2015 for her book ‘Rag Darbari’ (राग दरबारी).
The awards in all the Indian languages were announced today afternoon in New Delhi.
Danait, the 69-year old versatile writer, has translated original Hindi novel ‘Rag Darbari’ by Shrilal Shukla.
Hailing from Zambaulim, Danait has been writing short stories, essays and children’s literature for the last 38 years, in Konkani.
This is the first novel she has translated.
In spite of creating powerful literature in Konkani and bagging six local awards since 1978, Danait has somehow been missing the opportunity of bagging prestigious national award of Sahitya Academy.
“Better late than never”, said Danait while talking to gonews.com from Bangalore, where the couple lives with their son.
Danait, having 11 books to her credit so far, moved to Mumbai after getting married to Vinayak Danait but continued producing Konkani literature.
In fact, she said, she had to translate this book twice as more than half of her translation got washed away in the horrific flood Mumbai witnessed on 26 July 2006.
Sheela Kolambkar, her contemporary and Sahitya Academy award winner of 1997, is equally happy with the award.
While both of them continue their literary work even after shifting to Mumbai, Kolambkar is also happy that Danait’s literary talent was finally honoured by the highest national body.
“Jayamala’s literature touches sensitive issues of a women in a delicate manner that leaves life-time imprint on reader’s mind”, said Kolambkar.
Following are the awards and literature produced by Danait:
AWARDS
Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award – Kavaso – Short Stories (1978)
Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award – Satpak – One Act Plays (1982)
Goa Kala Academy Award – Karbat – Manuscript of Essays (1990)
Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award - Ambadya Bhonvti Teen Shenvtteem – Short Stories (2006)
Konkani Kala Sahitya Kendra, Curchorem Translation Award – Rag Darbari (2011)
LITERATURE
Kavaso (कवासो) – Short Stories (1978)
Saptak (सप्तक) – Children’s One Act Play (1982)
Karbat (करबट) – Esssays (1994)
Fukttant Bhonvddi (फुकटांत भोवंडी) – Children’s Literature – Translation (1994)
Indradhanu (इंद्रधोणु) – Children’s Literature (1996)
Mhatari Budd (म्हातारी बुद्द) – Children’s Literature (1996)
Dev Ani Danav (देव आनी दानव) – Children’s Literature (2004)
Ambadya Bhonvti Teen Shenvtteem (आंबाड्या भोंवतीं तीन शेंवतीं) – Essays (2006)
Rag Darbari (राग दरबारी) – Novel – Translation (2010)
Saanj Saavlli (सांज सावळी) – Short Stories (2014)
Zopallo (झोपाळो) – Short Stories (2016)
Proud day for Goa and for Konkanni language.Its so pleasing to learn that Konkani literature is finally getting the recognition it deserved.After Uday Bhembre Danait's award was an icing on the cake.