Padma Shri for Maria Couto & Fr Romaldo
goanews agency | 25 January 2010 19:28 IST
Maria Aurora Couto and Fr Romaldo D’Souza, two prominent Goans, have been conferred with Padma Shri this year, both in the field of literature and education.
The announcement was made today evening from Delhi.
Ms Couto, a well-known educationist, has written a book "Goa: A Daughter's Story". The book is a cultural history of Goa, analysing it from pre-liberation Portuguese regime till date.
She has also translated Etnography of Goa, Daman and Diu, a classic work in Portuguese by A.B. Braganca Pereira. Both books have been published by Viking, Penguin. Yet another book to her credit is "Graham Greene: On the Frontier, Politics and Religion in the Novels" by Macmillan, London published in 1986. She is also known for fearlessly voicing out her opinions on Goa's social and environmental issues.
Fr D'Souza is a founder of Goa Institute of Management, situated at Ribandar. Founded in 1993, the institute has come up as one of the topmost management institute in the country. He is also the founder of Xavier Centre for Historical Research in 170. Fr D'Souza has also worked as a director of several institutions in Pune, Jamshedpur and Bhuvaneshwar.
Reacting to the prestigious honour, Ms Couto said: "I feel there are many deserving personalities, but I really feel honoured." Being a teacher of English, she said Goa has progressed quite well in the field of education, but lots more needs to done. She said she misses at this joyous moment her husband Alban, a senior civil servant worked in Goa as the Development Commissioner and also in many parts of India, who expired few months ago.
Fr D'Souza, though felt honoured, said he does not work of awards but it is a recognition of his service. He also appealed to the younger generation to learn for knowledge and not merely for employment. Education should generate new ideas and that is a real award for any educationist, he added.
Meanwhile, Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat has congratulated both the recipients.
