Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 22: Well-known Konkani writer Gratian Pius D’Silva (nom de plume Herolpius) has passed away at the age of 67 in his residence on Monday, February 22.
He worked in the Government of India’s central department at various positions and retired as the immigration director of Mangaluru International Airport.
He was the recipient of the prestigious 'Daiji Dubai Literary Puroskar' for the year 2012.
Herolpius was born on August 14, 1954, at Cordel in Mangaluru. Born to the late John D’Silva and the late Marceline Fernandes, he was the third of seven children in his family. His first story was published in 1970 in Jhelo Monthly. That was the foundation for a string of literary success. To date, he has written about 170 short stories, 10 novels, 272 articles, over 200 poems, 1200-plus jokes, numerous stage plays and skits. His novel ‘Don Thembe Dukam’ bagged the Goa Konkani Basha Mandal award in 1972. His popular novels such as ‘Ragat Ani Udak’, ‘Ek Adurem Pintur’, ‘Moja Sapnachi Raani’, ‘Sister Shobha’, ‘Mog Ani Thyag’, ‘Tum Mojens-bha’, ‘Lagnachim Paili Raat’, ‘Pusun Ghallo Polo’ and ‘Shimti Pale Vankdi, have received a lot of appreciation from the by readers.
His four decades of assiduous and constant work makes him the ‘hidden giant’ of Konkani literature. He is one among the rare breed of Konkani writers whose work has been found worthwhile for translation into Kannada and Hindi languages.
Herolpius is survived by his wife and two children.