Karkal, 14 Apr 2013: Konkani Nakshatra award was conferred to Yerlapady Narayan Gavalkar, managing trustee of Mahalaxmi temple, Hirgana, near here during the Konkani Kavitamrut programme held at Konkani Mantovn stage that was organized by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in Mangalore on Friday April 12.
The Academy president Kasargod Chinna, veteran scholar Dr M Prabhakar Joshi, renowned Konkani litterateur Edwin J F D’Souza conferred Konkani Nakshatra award to Narayan Gavalkar at the occasion.
Konkani activist Deccharu Ganapati Shenoy, the Academy registrar Dr Devdas Pai, members Roy Castelino, Mahesh R Nayak, Om Ganesh, Ashok Shet, past member B Pundalik Marate Shirva were present.
Seventy-three-year-old Narayan Gavalkar is a science graduate, progressive farmer, and silently contributing his mite for social, religious, cultural and literary spheres. He has translated Valmiki, mythological episode in Rajapura Saraswat Konkani that is the treasure trove. He is also lexiconist who has published a dictionary of 10,500 words in Rajapur Konkani. He is a Yakshagana artiste and an accomplished litterateur both in Tulu and Kannada.