Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Ponda

Ponda, Jan 3: Noted educationist and writer Dr Aroon Heblekar was announced as recipient of prestigious literary award ‘Gomant Sharada Puraskar’ of Kala academy Goa.

MLA and chairman of Kala Academy Vishnu Surya Wagh addressed the media at Ponda and declared Dr Heblekar as recipient of Gomant Sharda Puraskar for the year 2010-11.

“Heblekar deserved the prestigious award of Kala Academy as he has contributed a lot to literature field and mostly the science related literature. He has been bestowed with many prestigious awards from Maharashtra and Goa”, said Vishnu Wagh.

Wagh informed that date of conferring award is not yet decided but will be shortly declared.

Gomant Sharda Purskar was constituted in the year 1993. So far, B D Satoskar, Ravendra Kelekar, Manohar Hirba Sardesai, Dr Manoharrai Sardesai, Shanker Ramani, Chandrakant Keni, Lambert Mascarenhas and Pundalik Naik are among those who received this award in the past.

Heblekar has written fourteen novels in Marathi, three collections of short stories in Marathi and three books in Konkani. His two novels are on way and one of his Marathi book is translated to English.
Heblekar who retired as principal of Ponda Education Society’s college of Arts and Science had also served as registrar of Goa University.

Heblekar expressed his happiness and said that he didn’t expect the award so early in his life, as he is still continuing writing and such awards are given only when retirement from writing field is taken. He said that he has always tried to give message about women empowerment in his writings.

When asked him whether he has plans to convert his literature in eBook he said that although eBook culture is growing up, books in form of paper should remain as old age people can't access or won't be able to sit in front of computers for long even if they can access.