PANAJI; The politicians, bureaucrats, thinkers, writers, poets, and people from various walks of life, besides number of social and cultural organisations have condoled the death of the celebrated Konkani litterateur, Ravindra Kelekar, terming his demise as an end of an era and passing away of a life devoted to India, Goa and Konkani language.

Condoling the sad demise of the noted litterateur, the Governor, Dr S S Sidhu said, "I am deeply grieved to learn about the sad demise of Padma Bhushan Ravindra Kelekar, a Jnanpith Awardee and renowned Goan litterateur."

"Late Kelekar was a well-known freedom fighter and an outstanding creative writer in Konkani language, which is the official language of the state of Goa. He has made a rich contribution to the promotion of Konkani language, which is a guiding force to not only the people of Goa, but also to all Konkani speaking people," the message from the Governor said, pointing out, "I would like to say that late Kelekar had risen to great heights in the modern literary world and had created a prominent and special place for Konkani and its literature among other Indian languages."

"In fact, he was one of the chief architects in promoting Konkani language and literature," Dr Sidhu noted, maintaining that through his creative literary works and achievements, late Kelekar has undoubtedly left a rich legacy of pride for the people of Goa to draw their inspiration.

"In his death, Goa and the whole country, has lost a giant literary figure and a good human being," the message concluded.

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, in his homage said that Goa has not only lost a great scholar but also a fighter who fought for the just causes ceaselessly.

"Late Kelekar was a freedom fighter and always stood firmly to safeguard the interest of Goa," Mr Kamat said, adding that he devoted his life to take Konkani language to the pinnacles of glory and worked untiringly for it.

He was fortunate enough to see his long cherished dreams come true. It will be a befitting tribute to the departed soul to continue his work with missionary zeal to enlighten the society, Mr Kamat added.

The Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and the chairman of Kala Academy, Mr Pratapsingh Rane said that Ravindrabab was a veteran writer who took Konkani literature to new heights by winning national accolades like fellowship of Sahitya Akademi, Padma Bhushan and the coveted Jnanpith Award.

"The Goa Kala Academy had recognised his contribution way back in 1995, when he was awarded Kala Academy’s highest award, Gomant Sharada Puraskar," he added.

Mr Rane further stated that Kelekar’s literature bore affinity towards socialism and humanism, the values that he derived from his long standing association with Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave.

"He will always be remembered for the thought provoking and scholarly literary works that he created till the end," Mr Rane noted in a press note, released by the member secretary of Kala Academy, Dr P R Phaldesai, predicting that Ravindrabab will continue to inspire the younger generation of Goan writers to surpass newer boundaries with the same zeal and enthusiasm as shown by him during his lifetime.

The South Goa Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, Mr Francisco Sardinha has also condoled the death of Ravindra Kelekar saying that in his death Goa has lost an eminent son who championed the cause of Konkani and fought for social causes.

The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Mr Shantaram Naik, in his homage to the departed soul said, "In the death of Ravindra Kelekar, a revolutionary era of Konkani movement has ended."

"It is his spirit and love for Konkani that inspired many of us to fight for the cause of the Konkani, irrespective of what others said or would say," the message by Mr Naik said, pointing out that late Kelekar, was not only an eminent literary figure but was an institution in real sense of the term.

"Recently, when Ravindrabab was felicitated at Panaji upon his receiving Jnanpith Award, at the hands of Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Ms Meira Kumar, we saw even those who opposed grant of recognition to Konkani as an independent literary language by Sahitya Academy, remained present to greet late Kelekar," Mr Naik recalled.

The well-known Konkani writer and poet, Mr Uday Bhembre said that Ravindrabab, during the last 60 years was tirelessly contributing to Konkani language, as related to both, the Konkani movement and the Konkani language.

"This contribution on the part of Ravindrabab will ensure him a place of pride in the Goan history," he added.

Speaking further, Mr Bhembre said that the demise of Ravindrabab has resulted in the third generation of Konkani protagonists going behind the veil of death; the first generation represented by Shenoi Goembab, the second one represented by Bakibab Borkar and Laxmanrao Sardesai, while the third generation marked by the likes of Dr Manoharrai Sardesai and Ravindrabab.

"The significance of Ravindrabab’s literature was the rich intellectual content in it," he said, adding that the real homage to the departed octogenarian writer would be to produce such literature in Konkani, in the future.

The eminent tiatrist, social worker and president of Tiatr Akademi of Goa, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo said that Goa has lost one of her worthy sons, in the passing away of Ravindra Kelekar.

"He had worked for Goa, Goan identity and Konkani language, selflessly, besides being a intellectual thinker," Mr Cardozo added, pointing out that Ravindrabab had participated in all major movements, which took place in Goa including those linked to Liberation, anti-merger, taking Konkani to VIIIth Schedule of the Constitution, statehood, Official Language status and so on.

Mr Cardozo further stated that the vacuum created by the passing away of late Kelekar would be very difficult to fill, in the near future.

The Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA), expressing its deep grief over the passing away of Goa’s first Jnanpith Awardee, Ravindra Kelekar, said that the departed writer was very much involved in the Konkani movement and played an important role in maintaining the unique identity of Goa, especially through Konkani language.

"He contributed immensely to Konkani literature in various forms," the DKA press note stated, adding that the writings of late Kelekar in lucid, simple and rich Konkani, were based on deep thinking and were thought provoking.

"The death of senior Konkani writer has been a great loss to Goa," the condolence message said, adding that DKA prays for the departed soul and offers condolences to the bereaved family.