Panaji: Konkani writer and Jnanpith award
winner Ravindra Kelekar passed away this morning in a private
hospital at Margao, family sources said.
Kelekar, 85, was admitted in the hospital after a brief
illness.
The veteran writer has to his credit several books in
English, Hindi, Konkani, Marathi and Gujarati.
He had received the Jnanpith Award for the year 2007 from
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on July 31, 2010 at a function
here.
Inspired by Gandhian ideology, Kelekar penned several
books on the topic. His translation of Mahabharata in Konkani
is considered an important piece of literature.
Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat has termed Kelekar`s
demise as a major loss to the literary world.
The government has decided to give Kelekar state funeral
and also announced public holiday tomorrow as a mark of
respect to him.
PTI
