Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Feb 8: The Samanvaya Trust has chosen Irene Pinto for the 'Late Victor Rodrigues memorial Konkani literary award – 2016’. The award consisting Rs 10,000 cash and momento will be conferred on her during a ceremony to be held at Samanvaya conference hall at Urwa Store, Mangaluru on February 14.
Famous novelist of yesteryears Irene Castelino nee Pinto wrote by pen name 'Sharath' also. Her first novel ‘Balidhan’ was published in ‘Zhelo’ monthly magazine in serial form in 1963. After that she published 8 other novels. 4 of her novels were published in serial form first in Konkani periodicals and then later in book forms. One of the novels saw two reprints.
Balidhan (1963), Sthree ( 1964), Mojein Anthskarn Visorchenam (1965), Palleli Bhas (1968), Haanv Chukon Podonk Na (1969 ) Thuvein Negar Kelein (1972), Mog Ani Bharvaso (1973) and Asha Ani Nirasha (1985) are her novels. She has also written 25 short stories.
The awards Irene Pinto has received are , Best book award for 'Sthree' by Mithr in 1964, Award by Konkani Bhasha Mandal Goa in 1974 for Mog Ani Bharvaso, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya academy award for literature in 2003 and Louis I Mascarenhas Konkani Nalanda Sahitya Puraskar in 2010 by School of Konkani Studies, Mangaluru.
Irene Pinto gave up writing after she got married and started her profession as a banker. Now she resides at Bejai.