2005 Sahitya Akademi Award to Konkani: an unethical procedure 2005 award of Sahitya Akademi for outstanding contribution to Konkani literature was declared to Mr. N. Shivdas for his Konkani collection of stories 'Bhangarsal'. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-. Konkani community and writers are totally surprised that Sahitya Akademi has decided to give this award to Mr. N. Shivdas, who is a member of the Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi!
To select a book for the award a procedure is followed by the Sahitya Akademi. In this procedure the Advisory Board of each language is involved. Advisory board of Konkani language consists of 10 members and Mr. N. Shivdas is one of the members of Advisory Board for the years 2003-2007. How a member of Advisory Board can be nominated for the award? Is this act justified? Is it based on sound reasoning and ethical code? These questions are hotly discussed these days among Konkanis. The role of the advisory Board to select a book for the award is evident from terms and conditions of Sahitya Akademi for the year 2003 -2007. From this procedure it is evident that the Advisory Board of a language plays the key role to select a book for the annual award. In this background it is utterly unreasonable and unethical on the part of the Sahitya Akademi to give its award to a member of its advisory Board. Hence the Sahitya Akademi should immediately withdraw its 2005 award for Konkani announced to N. Shivadas. Otherwise Sahitya Akademi's prestigious name is at stake. To prevent future manipulation Sahitya Akademi should add one more rule, namely "a work of an author who is a member of the Advisory Board of the Akademi is not eligible for the award of the Sahitya Akademi", in its stipulated regulations for its awards. Pratap Naik, S.J. Director THOMAS STEPHENS KONKNNI KENDR B. B. Borkar Road, Alto Porvorim Goa - 403 521, INDIA. (0832) 2415857, 2415864 Estd. 29-03-1982. Reg. No. 23/Goa/82 e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website:www.tskk.org