from Pratap Naik, SJ
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, Feb 6: For the first time in the last 18 years of the prestigious Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar (APKP) a person from the audio-visual media, and from the Muslim community of Goa has been selected by Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK). Yusuf Sheikh, the former Station Director of Doordarshan, Shillong bags APKP of 2008. He has been selected for this award for his contribution to Konkani through audio-visual media and for Konkani literature especially poetry.
Born on August 1, 1948, Yusuf Sheikh hails from the Muslim community of Goa. He has done his M.Sc. from University of Bombay in 1973. He started to serve Konknni in 1966 with the composition of poems and writing short stories. During his college days he aggressively participated in the Konkani language movement and started Konkani Sonvskrutik Mandal in 1968. Yusuf was one of those who lit the Konkani torch and led the movement initiated in mid seventies by Gurunath Kelekar with an inspiring slogan: “Konknni Uloy, Konknni Boroy, Konknnintlean Sorkar Choloy.” He started contributing Konknni articles to Devanagari and Roman script periodicals. Later, during his posting at All India Radio, Mangalore from 1984 to 1991 he learnt the Kannada script and contributed to Konkani periodicals in Kannada script.
He has the experience of working in different capacities like Casual Announcer, Production Assistant, Transmission Executive, Programme Executive and in various linguistic zones in different parts of our country like Karnataka, Meghalaya, Assam and Goa. He has worked as an Assistant Station Director at All India Radio, and Doordarshan Kendra, Panaji.
He has two books to his credit. Besides he has done Konkani translation of 30th chapter of the Quran. Two of his books, namely, ‘Basics of Television Journalism’ and ‘Amcheo Porbo ani Mhotvache Dis’ (Feasts and festivals) will be published in the near future . Some of his literary works are included in anthologies published by National Sahitya Akademi. Some of his poems are also included in Konk ni textbooks. Besides this he has contributed articles, short stories, poems, literary criticism, etc to various leading periodicals in Goa irrespective of their language and script. He also contributed Konkani articles to Kannada script periodicals. His poems, short stories, talks, etc are broadcast from All India Radio, Panaji, Mumbai, and Mangalore, and also telecast from Doordarshan Kendra, Panaji.
He was associated with several institutions and bodies such as Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi; Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad; and Goan Poet Circle in different important designations.
He has received Akashwani Award for his documentary in Konkani ‘Poder’. He is recipient of Goa Kala Akademi’s Sahitya Puroskar, Konkani Bhasha Mandal award for his book ‘Gantthi’ and he was awarded by Goa Writers’ Circle for his short story ‘Uzvatintlea Dhunvrantlean’.
He has actively participated in various seminars and workshops in Goa, and outside Goa. He was the first Goan to be appointed by UPSC in 1980 as the Programme Executive for Konknni in All India Radio and was the first Goan to occupy the rank of Station Director of Doordarshan.
Apart from these contributions and achievements, a number of his songs have been set to music and regularly broadcast by All India Radio Panaji, Mangalore, and Mumbai. A few songs have been attractively illustrated and telecast.
This multi-faceted Konkani man and the pride of the Muslim community of Goa, will receive APKP award from the Archbishop of Goa, Filipe Neri Ferrão on March 28, 2008 at the closing function of TSKK Silver Jubilee Year to be held at Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim. This function is open to the public.