Shri P. G. Kamath [1926 – 2009]
Padmanabha Gopalakrishna Kamath was a renowned scholar of Konkani, Malayalam, Hindi and English. Modernist Konkani poet. Multilingual translator. Educationalist and Humanist. He was the eldest son of Pulikka Parambil Padmanabha Kamath and Smt Puthamammal of Thuravoor, Kerala, India. He had his school education at the local T. D. Primary / High Schools and studied Sanskrit at the Temple Pathasala. He won distinction in the Teaching of English and Science at the B. T. examination, for which he was awarded the Nagoji Rao Gold Medal in 1949.
He took M. A. in Hindi from Benares Hindu University. During this time, he also studied Pali, Prakrit and the Apabhramsa. He used to lead Bhajan in the local temple. He also used to take part in the dramas as an actor, background singer and Harmonium player. He did social service also whenever occasion demanded. He was an active member of the Venkatesha Seva Samithi, Kochi and was once President of the Co-operative Society No 935. He entered the Kerala Government Service as a trained graduate teacher and after a long and sincere service period of 33 years in various capacities, retired as the Hindi Education Officer in 1981. Hindi lovers of Kerala instituted founded “The P. G. Kamath Puraskar Nidhi”, which gives two annual cash awards named P. G. Kamath Puraskar to the teacher trainees scoring highest marks at the Hindi Training Course conducted by the Govt. of Kerala.
He has several books to his credit :
- Anya Bhasha Sikshan – won him a Central Govt. Award in 1972
- Maila Anchal – Translation of Hindi Novel by Phaniswaranatha Renu into Malayalam
- Sahitya Ka Marma – Hindi Essays by Dr Hazari Prasad Dwivedi into Malayalam
- Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol I – Lectures by Swami Ranganathananda into Malayalam (Pub. by Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Puranattukara)
- Ek Avatarika Bhagavad Geetek – Swami Ranganathanandaji’s Gita Lectures in English to Konkani (Pub. by Kerala Konkani Academy, Kochi)
- Bhurgyalo Jag – R. V. Pandit’s Konkani work into Hindi
- Jnanappana – Poonthanam’s Malayalam poem into Konkani
- Dharmapadam of Sri Budha into Malayalam
- Moonstone of Wilki Collins as Chandrakanthi into Malayalam
- Edgar Allan Poe’s detective novel into Malayalam
- Panhiyum Noolum – a Tamil novel into Malayalam
- Lipi – Ek Sastriya Chintan – Essays in Konkani (Pub. by Kerala Konkani Academy, Kochi)
- Sandhyavandanadi – in Malayalam (Run into three editions)
- Shradhanjali – Konkani Edited Work on Manjeshwar Govinda Pai
- Mhaniyam Soru – Collection of Konkani proverbs by R.S.Prabhu, Co-edited with Payyanur Ramesh Pai
- Konkani Baraytana – Essays , Co-author : Saratchandra Shenoi
- Shenoi Goembab – Monograph in Konkani by R.N.Naik, Translated into Malayalam (Pub. by Sahitya Akademi)
- Sravonn – Konkani folklore, a study
- Povllim – Poetry anthology
- Ollokh – Poetry anthology (Posthumous Publication)
He has occupied various positions, like,District Educational Officer, Hindi Educational Officer, Chairman of Kerala Konkani Academy (1985-2001), Member of the Konkani Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi (1998-2002), Member of the Advisory Board to the School of Konkani Studies at Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute, Ernakulam, Member of Text Book Committee for Hindi, Kerala Govt. etc. He was honoured by the All India Konkani Parishad and has presided over the 16th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan in Goa in 2003. The Sahitya Akademi conducted its “Meet The Author” programme in 2000 at Panaji, Goa, in his honour. Sri. Kamath was a founder member of Kerala Konkani Academy (Regd), and was its Chairman for 16 long years from 1985. He was the Editor of Divti, the Konkani monthly. Portrait of P. G. Kamath, an outstanding Konkani personality, is displayed in the ‘Hall of Fame’ at Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Konkani Gaon, Shakti Nagar, Mangalore.
