PVLF 2025

'Sattarikar' Prakash Parienkar Receives the Sahitya Akademi Award

Explore Dr. Prakash Parienkar's award-winning Konkani literature, from Sahitya Akademi honors to eco-anthropological studies, showcasing Goa's rich literary tapestry.
on Dec 21, 2023

Dr. Prakash Parienkar, a versatile writer from Goa, was awarded this year's central Sahitya Akademi Award for his story collection 'Varsal' in Konkani.

At a press conference held this afternoon in New Delhi, Madhav Kaushik, President of the Sahitya Akademi, unveiled this, as well as the books in the other 23 Indian languages.

Dr Fr Melwyn Pinto, Neelba Khandekar, and Vincy Quadros served on the Konkani language jury.
The award will be handed on March 12 in the national capital, on the occasion of the 70th Foundation Day of the country's largest literary institution.

Jaag Prakashan published 'Varsal,' a collection of Konkani stories, in 2021.

The book has also been translated into Kannada as "Varsal Mattu Ithara Latkagalu" by Dr Geeta Shenoi, and its title story 'Varsal' was translated into English by Vidya Pai and published in Govapuri in 2000.

NATIONAL AWARDS

Dr. Parienkar was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 2010 for his children's play 'Igadi Bigadi Tigadi Tha' ( ).

At the age of 35, he received his first national Katha award from New Delhi for his Konkani story 'Chandrakor' ().

The 55-year-old author has eight books to his name, as well as six translated titles.

His short stories have been translated into Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Odia, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Urdu, English, and Portuguese, among other languages.

Dr. Parinekar has received multiple state literary honours for his novels, as well as state awards for screenplays for short films.

The Vice Dean (Research) in the discipline of Konkani at Goa University also has a complete research work on the Mhadei river in Goa, named Mhadei: Kallzantyal Kagdar... (...). A few of accolades have also been bestowed upon the book.

Dr. Parienkar is actively involved in ground-level activity in his Sattari taluka, including literature, education, and safaris in the forests of Mhadei sanctuary, in addition to writing and teaching.

In 2018, he was the inaugural President of the Gramin Sahitya Sammelan, which was held in Karanzol village of Sattari taluka.

The following are some highlights of his literary contribution:

BOOKS

1999: Karbari Konkani (कारबारी कोंकणी), (co-writer)
2005: Davarnem (दवरणें ) (Essays).
2006: Igadi Bigadi Tigadi Tha (इगडी बिगडी तिगडी था) (Children’s play).
2010: Kolyachi Nadepenna (कोल्याचीं नाडेपेन्नां) (Verse Tale).
2011: Mhadei: Kallzantlyan Kagdar… (म्हादयः काळजांतल्यान कागदार…) (An eco-anthropological Study of Mhadei river basin).
2013: Amche Aami (आमचे आमी) (Collection of Poetry).
2021: Varsal (वर्सल) (Short Stories Collections).
2022: Puran (पुरण) (Novel).

AWARDS

2003: Katha, a National award for a Konkani short story entitled Chandrakor, (चंद्रकोर)
2006: Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Literary Award- 2006 for the collection of essays Davarnem.
2007: Pandit Pratap Narayan Mishra Smurti Yuva Sahityakar Sanman awarded by Bhaurao Devras Seva Nyas, Lucknow, given to the non-Hindi speaking young writer for his contribution to the regional language.
2007: Padmashree B. B. Borkar Memorial Literary award of The Goa Hindu Association, Mumbai for the collection of essays Davarnem..
2008: Sarvotkrust Sahitya Puraskar by Goa Konkani Academy for the collection of essays Davarnem.
2008: Dr. TMA Pai Foundation Manipal’s Appreciation Literary Award for Davarnem.
2009: Late Meghasham Nayak Memorial Yuva Sahitya Puraskar by 11th Yuva Konkani Sahitya Sammelan.
2010: Sahitya Akademi award for Children’s Literature for Igadi Bigadi Tigadi Tha (इगडी बिगडी तिगडी था)
2010: Yuva Srujan Puraskar for the valuable contribution in the field of Konkani literature, awarded by the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa.
2011: Sattari Asmitai Puraskar for the contribution to the field of Literature, Education and Environment, awarded by Gramin Vikas Sankrutik Sanstha, Valpoi, Sattari.
2011: Late Gundu Sitaram Amonkar Excellence Award for the book MHADEI: KALLZANTLYAN KAGDAR… (म्हादयः काळजांतल्यान कागदार…)
2012: Janaganga literary award for MHADEI: KALLZANTLYAN KAGDAR… (म्हादयः काळजांतल्यान कागदार…)
2013: Sarvotkrust Sahitya Puraskar (in Research category) for MHADEI: KALLZANTLYAN KAGDAR… (म्हादयः काळजांतल्यान कागदार…)
2015: Dr. Jose Pareira memorial award for MHADEI: KALLZANTLYAN KAGDAR… (म्हादयः काळजांतल्यान कागदार…)

FILMS

Wrote screenplay for a Konkani short film ‘Ek Thembo Ashecho’ (एक थेंबो आशेचो), bagged second place in All Goa short film competition, organized by Film Bimb, Panaji Goa.
Hindi Film ‘The Motherhood & Ek Pal’ based on the Konkani short story Monel Maya (मोनेळ माया) was selected for the Shooting & Screening for the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2007.
Won second prize in the screenplay writing competition titled ‘Soim Sobit Neha’ (सैम सोबीत नेहा) at the competition organized by the Entertainment Society of Goa.
‘A Cross Across’ is a Konkani Film based on the short story ‘Gallyantlo Khuris’ (गळ्यांतलो खुरीस).
Full-length Marathi film produced by Shree Gowardhan Entertainment, Pune, based on a Konkani short story ‘Monel Maya’ (मोनेळ माया).
‘Kaajro’ (काजरो) is a Konkan film based on a short story screened in the category of Indian Story at MAMI, 21st Mumbai Film Festival, Mumbai in 2019. Also screened at IFFI in 2019, the Aurangabad International Film Festival of India in 2020, the Bengaluru International Film Festival in 2020 and
Aarya – Daughter of Bharat, a Marathi feature film based on the short story, was selected for the Norway International Hollywood Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival.

TRANSLATIONS

Translated Marathi drama into Konkani Language, title Dekhanni Baiko Dusryachi (देखणी बायको दुसऱ्याची) written by Ashok Patole.
Translated Marathi drama into Konkani Language, title Dehbhan (देहभान) written by Abhiram Bhatkamkar.
Translated Hindi short story of Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena into Konkani and published in Jaag monthly.
Translated NBT English Children’s book into Konkani titles A Friend Together (घट्ट इश्टागत) written by Aindrila Mitra, 2023.
Translated NBT Hindi Children’s book into Konkani titles क्यो? (कित्याक?) written by Meenakshi Swami, 2023.
Translated NBT Hindi Children’s book into Konkani, titled Bhaji Bajar (भाजी बाजार) written by Sarvendra Vikram, 2023.