Konkani writer J. B. Sequeira is no more

Konkani writer J. B. Sequeira is no more

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Sep 6,  Sep 6, 2012 : John Baptist Sequeira, the renowned Konkani poet who was known as J. B. Sequeira, died on September 5, Thursday in Australia, at the age of 75. He is survived by wife and two children. He has left behind a large number of friends and wellwishers.

J. B. Sequeira was a regular contributor to Mangalore Today Magazine. His poems and articles were highly appreciated by our readers. He had served as the vice president of Konkani Bhasha Mandal in Mumbai and had presided over the 18th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan held at Curchorem in Madgaon in Goa in 1007.

Although he was born in Mumbai, he spent his childhood in Shankarapura in Pangala in Udupi and completed his basic education in Udupi before moving to Mumbai in 1956.

He has won the Sahitya Academy Award of 1988, the Dr. T. M. A. Pai Foundation Award of 1989, the Sandesha Konkani Best Literature Award of 2003, and the title of Kaviraj, conferred on him by Kalasaagar in Mumbai. He is also associated with several institutions and organizations.

His first Konkani novel was Solvonint Jik. Besides, he has written a number of books titled Doth Kithli, Vavraddeancho Tallo, Kallzache Umalle, Ek Sopann Adhurem, Oxim Ailim Lharam, Sotam Khotam, Avalle Dhuvalle, Mukhavaram/Movllam in three volumes, and Ami Konglish Uloitanv in two volumes. Some of his writings have been translated to Tulu and English.

 

His ‘Mukhamvaram/Movllam’ in three volumes is a pioneering document consisting of over 25,000 idioms and phrases, colloquial innuendoes and popular vocabulary in Konkani.

 

Mr. Sequeira was a great Philanthropist, Poet, Novelist, Writer and a great human being. We miss a great friend and a philosopher in his departure. May his noble soul rest in peace.