Goa Konkani Akademi Announces 2025 & 2026 Literary and Language Service Awards

Goa Khabar: The Goa Konkani Akademi has announced the recipients of its prestigious Konkani Sahitya Puraskar and Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar for the years 2025 and 2026, recognising outstanding contributions to Konkani literature, language, culture, media, and the arts.

The awards will be presented on August 20, 2026, on the occasion of Konkani Rashtramanyatay Dis, in recognition of individuals, writers, artists, institutions, and organisations that have significantly contributed to the promotion and preservation of the Konkani language.

The Akademi stated that preserving Konkani, its rich literary heritage, and honouring those who have dedicated themselves to the language remains one of its foremost responsibilities.

2025 Award Highlights

The Best Konkani Literature/Book Awards have been announced across eight categories, including poetry, short stories, drama, essays, research, children’s literature, translation, and literature by Konkani writers outside Goa. Each award carries a cash prize of ₹25,000, along with a memento, certificate of honour, and shawl.

Among the major honours, Shri Pundalik Narayan Naik has been selected for the Sahitya Pratibha Award, while Dr. Jayanti Naik will receive the Sahitya Pradnya Award. Other notable awardees include Chetan Khedekar, Roman Rodrigues, Mahesh Divkar, R.B.S. Komarpant, Chandrashekar Shenoi, C. Dsilva, Jhon Aguier, and Divchal Konkani Seva Kendra.

2026 Award Highlights

For 2026, the Best Konkani Literature/Book Awards have been conferred on writers in eight literary categories, with Sameer Zatye, Agust Barreto, Sushant Laxmikant Nayak, H. Manoj, Priyadarshani Tadkodkar, Filomena Sanfrancisco, Snehlata Bhatikar, and Sandesh Shri Bandekar (Karwar) among the recipients.

In the Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar category, Shri Devidas Kadam has been selected for the Sahitya Pratibha Award, while Shri Bhalchandra Gaonkar will receive the Sahitya Pradnya Award.

Other distinguished awardees include Shalaka Desaai, Rajat Hegde, Loukik Shilkar, Ulhas Yashwant Naik, T.R. Sadanand Bhat, Price Jackab, Mahim Bhandari, and Antruj Ghudyo, Bandora-Ponda, which has been selected for the Konkani Seva Saustha Award.

The Akademi said the awards reflect its continued commitment to encouraging excellence in Konkani literature, recognising lifelong contributions to the language, and inspiring future generations to preserve Goa’s linguistic and cultural heritage.