Madhavi Sardesai leaves the world...
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 22 December 2014 09:28 IST
Madhavi Sardesai, veteran Konkani writer, linguist, teacher and recipient of National Sahitya Academy award, passed away today early morning.
She was fighting adrenal cancer for almost a year now.
She will be at her brother MLA Vijay Sardesai’s Margao house for the whole day today. The Funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 11.
Three days ago, she was declared to have received most prestigious National Sahitya Academy award for her research-based book of essays – Manthan.
Raju Nayak, her husband and editor of Goa edition of Lokmat, had received on her behalf the Bimb magazine award last night at the annual function held at editor Dilip Borkar’s house.
Madhavi, 52, was teaching at the Konkani faculty of Goa University and had to take over as the Head of the Department for having been promoted as Professor.
More than her writings, Madhavi was widely popular in literary and cultural circles as well as her students and huge circle of friends for her polite and accommodative nature.
Being a hard core Gandhian, Madhavi was also editing ‘Jaag’, a monthly founded for her great Gandhian uncles – Dnyanpeeth awardee and Padmabhushan recipient Ravindra Kelekar as well as Sumant Kelekar.
Her dedication to Konkani was unquestionable and she worked committedly to take ahead the cause of Konkani even while fighting the deadly illness for the whole year.
Her commitment to Konkani reflected in every action, including her email – madhavikonkani@gmail.com.
Besides Manthan, Madhavi had also received translation award of Sahitya Academy for a book on Mahatma Gandhi.
She has also written a book – Bhasabhas – a book on linguistics as well as a translation of a French children’s book – Mankulo Rajkunvar.
Madhavi was also a powerful poet, known for her thoughtful short poems, though not published in a book form.
She is survived by two daughters – Asavari and Aditi.
While paying tributes to her, poet and MLA Vishnu Wagh instantly reacted on WhatsApp with his poem dedicated to Madhavi:
माधवी...
दोळे दुकांनी भल्ल्यात...
काळीज जड जालां....
आनी मन बधीर.
तुवें आतां प्रस्थान केलां
निरंजनाचे यात्रे खातीर
ओम शांती शांती शांतीः!
Very sad news. She was a very decent and professional person.
Sorry for the loss Mr. Nayak and their daughters,
For Madhavi,
Simplicity, innocence, sincerity
together in you prevailed,
young yet beautiful
in pain yet determined,
success in endeavor,
greatness of friendships,
dedication to duty,
what could one seek more
but a nest for peace and calm
amidst those aches.
Your sweet smile an honor
unto the friends who knew you.
Twinkle O’ little star……
and you will twinkle forever
in all the hearts you loved
as you made those hearts
to love you back
and to remember you
no matter how far you will go.
From - Bernadette Rodrigues Pinto
MADHAVI WE MISS YOU
Goa lost a charming, innocent, studious, objective, secular, humanist, dynamic, feminist , progressive, modern, liberal face of Konkani literature
It would take some time for the truth to sink in....
Whole state grieves on her loss...
Her effervescent personality was very prophetic here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5BwpvlX2gM
and she brought a certain elegance and grace to whatever she did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmNFq4VQqRI
You left this world, but not our world of thoughts..
For your passionate teaching,
For your zealous work for Konkani,
For the wonderful person you were,
You will be immortal in our hearts...