Tag: Ugtem Molob

Books & Literature

Launch of John Aguiar’s Konkani Poetry Collection “Thembe” on February 28 in Panaji

Swara Bodke

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

PANAJI, GOA – Writer, poet and lyricist John Aguiar is set to release his latest collection of Konkani poems, titled Thembe (Drops), further strengthening his contribution to contemporary Konkani literature.
The book release ceremony will be held on February 28, 2026, at 3.30 pm at Shenai Goembab Sabhaghar, Goa Konkani Akademi (BSNL Building), 5th floor, Patto, Panaji. The book will be released at the hands of Dr Purnanand Chari, Chairman of the Konkani Akademi. Smt Aparna Garudi will speak on the book, while Shri Ramesh Ghadi, Vice Chairman of the Konkani Akademi, will attend as Guest of Honour. Poet Prakash Naik will be a special guest at the event.
The function is organised by Ugtem Molob. Shri Vivek Pissurlekar, President of Ugtem Molob, has appealed to writers, poets and literature enthusiasts to attend the function in large numbers.
John Aguiar is widely recognised for his versatility, writing across Romi and Devanagari Konkani, English and Marathi. His works are known for their deep engagement with Goan culture, social realities and the subtleties of everyday life.


A retired officer from the Government of Goa’s Department of Information and Publicity, Aguiar brings a journalist’s clarity and precision to his creative writing. Beyond literature, he is also a well-known lyricist, with several of his songs regularly aired on All India Radio.
His published works span multiple genres. His poetry collections include Paulam, Gulmohar, Sanz and Olyo Yadi, which won the 2017 Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Rock Barretto Literary Award. His essay collections include Offside (English) and Mandovichea Dege Voilean (Roman Konkani), while his dramatic works include Sonvgam, a collection of one-act plays in Roman Konkani.
One of the early milestones in his career was the publication of the booklet Jinn in 1982–83, which was released by noted writer, poet and lyricist Advocate Uday Bhembre, then President of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal, at Chowgule College during Aguiar’s student days.

Books & Literature

Women Poets Enrich Goa’s Literary Landscape: A Celebration of Voices at Writers’ Gathering

allycaralgoa

Panjim, Goa – At a recent two-day writers’ gathering organized by the Institute Menezes Braganza at SRK Farm, Khandpar, prominent literary voices came together to spotlight the evolving landscape of Goan literature — with a special emphasis on the vital role of women poets in shaping the state’s rich cultural narrative.

Delivering an insightful talk, folklore scholar, teacher, and researcher Pournima Kerkar highlighted the significant yet often underappreciated contributions of women poets to Goan literature, especially in the Marathi language. “Their poetry brings a deeply personal, lyrical, and authentic voice to our literary canvas,” Kerkar noted. “Though mainstream recognition has been slow, their work is finally receiving the attention it deserves.”

John Aguiar, renowned poet and the presiding dignitary at the event, underscored the importance of nurturing young literary talent. In his closing remarks, Aguiar called for increased efforts to cultivate a culture of poetry reading and appreciation among the youth. “We need to inspire a generation that not only consumes but also creates literary literature that captures the essence of Goa,” he said.

Joining the discussion were Shri Ramesh Vaskar, journalist, writer, and poet, and Sheetal Salgaonkar, writer and poet, who brought forward valuable insights into the creative process and progression of Goan poetry.

Vaskar encouraged poets to draw from their lived experiences while aiming for artistic depth and originality. “Relatable, sincere poetry that goes beyond surface-level self-expression has the power to move hearts and minds,” he said.

Sheetal Salgaonkar contributed by presenting an overview of the evolution of Goan poetry, noting how it has become more inclusive and diverse in theme and voice, particularly with the rising presence of women writers.

As the gathering progressed, the conversation shifted to the soul of Goan poetry — its deep connection to the land and culture. Quoting iconic works like Manohar Rai Sardesai’s “Othra June”, Borkar’s “Nilya Khadichya Katala”, Vishnu Wagh’s “Ghumche Kattar Ghum”, and Ramesh Ghadi’s “Avoi Mhaka Chitint Goenchi Mati Dhad Ge”, participants reflected on how Goan poetry “smells of the soil” — rooted in memory, nature, and cultural identity.

Aguiar also emphasized the importance of standardizing Konkani poetry to preserve Goa’s literary heritage. He suggested that platforms like Institute Menezes Braganza and Ugtem Molob could play a pivotal role in facilitating poet readings, followed by critical discussions to help writers refine and improve their work.

This two-day gathering served not only as a celebration of literary talent but also as a call to action — to recognize the richness of women’s contributions, to inspire younger generations, and to preserve the authenticity and vibrance of Goa’s poetic traditions.