H.M. Pernal chosen for Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for Konkani

H.M. Pernal is chosen for the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for his literary criticism work in Konkani.

Renowned Mangaluru-based Konkani author H.M. Pernal (Henry Mendonca) has been chosen for the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for Konkani.

The award recognises his work of literary criticism, Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam, published in 2021.

Konkani, a scheduled language since 1992, was recognised as a literary language by the National Academy of Letters (Sahitya Akademi) in 1975. Since 1977, the Akademi has annually awarded excellence in Konkani literature. Spoken across five states — Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat — this is the fourth Sahitya Akademi award for a Mangaluru-based Konkani writer. Previous recipients include C.F.D. Costa (1992, poetry), Melvyn Rodrigues (2011, poetry), and Edwin J.F.D. Souza (2016, novel).

Mr. Pernal’s book takes credit as the first Konkani work in the genre of literary criticism to receive the award. It previously earned the Best Book Award from the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in 2021 and from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023. The volume features an elaborate foreword by Jnanpith Awardee Damodar Mauzo and was published by Kavita Publications, the publishing arm of Kavita Trust, dedicated to promoting Konkani poetry since 2001.

Originally from Pernal, Udupi district, Mr. Mendonca began his literary journey in Kannada as a young writer. In the early 1980s, he transitioned to Konkani, starting as a cartoonist before establishing himself as a short story writer, poet, and critic.

To date, Mr. Pernal has authored four poetry collections: Chalyank Chotrai (1999), Khaidyachyo Kavita (2004), Bamunnachem Cheddum (2006), and Zanel (2025), along with two short story collections: Devaak Sodullo Paddo (2002) and Beg ani Bigaath (2016), and one book of literary criticism, the award-winning Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).