Mangalore, Dec. 2: “O Re Soi” fame Yusuf Abdulla Sheikh has been selected for this year’s Mathias Family Poetry Award by Kavita Trust. The award is given to a person for his/her significant service to the Konkani poetic field. The award includes Rs 10,000 in cash, a memento and a certificate. The award will be conferred during the “Kavita Fest” to be held on January 12, 2014 at the Town hall, Mangalore.
The award is instituted by Joseph Mathias, Kuppepadavu, managing director of Dubai’s Merit Freight System LLC in the name of his family. The award has so far been presented to Mumbai’s Aruna Rao, Mangalore’s Kavyadas (Leo D’ Souza), Goa’s Kashinath Shambha Loliyenkar, Kerala’s Shivananda Shenoy and Goa’s Rajay Pawar.
Yusuf Sheikh, a resident of Vasco in Goa was born in 1948. He has secured M. Sc. Degree from Mumbai university. He had completed his preliminary education in St Joseph’s Institute of Vasco and ChowguleCollege in Madgaon. During his long service in Doordarshan, he has worked in Shillong, Gauhati and Panaji centers as an officer. He has also served in Akashvani centers in Karnataka, Meghalaya, Assam and Goa centers. He came to know many Konkani people during his service at Mangalore akashvani. He had imparted inspiration and encouragement to many Konkani poets during his stint. He learnt about local Konkani writings and had started writing in Kannada script.
His book of poems titled `Ganti’ was published in the year 1982 from Shenoy Publishers in Veling. Mapusa’s Konkani Shanti Prakashan published 30th chapter of the Holy Quran translated by him in 2004. Photoflex India published his book titled ‘Rang Ghai’ in 2005. His poems have been published in many national magazines. “O Re Soi”, “Murgaochean Dona Paula” and “Atmo Amcho Ek” has become a part of Goan academic syllabus.
His documentary by the name “Poder” for Akashvani has won national award for him. He has been awarded Goan Sahitya academy award, best book award by Goan Konkani Bhasha Mandal for his book ‘Ganti” and Antonio Pereira Konkani award from Fr Stephens Konknni Kendr.
Yusuf Sheikh has become famous for his songs as well. His songs are broadcast in Mangalore, Panaji and Mumbai Akashvani centers. His patriotic songs have been broadcast in Delhi and Panaji Doordarshan centers.
He was the president of Goan Poets forum and was the secretary of Goan Poets circle. He has served the Konkani poetic field during his work in various organizations during the last 45 years.
The award will be conferred on Yusuf Sheikh during the ‘Kavita Fest” by Rehmat Tarikere, famous critic of Kannada language and winner of Sahitya Akademi award.
