V. J. P. Saldanha
Encyclopedia
Vincent John Peter Saldanha was an India
n Konkani language littérateur, dramatist, novelist, short-story writer and poet. He made significant contributions to Konkani literature as a poet, dramatist, novelist, and a litterateur.
Saldanha maintained a strong Catholic identity in his writings, and his main themes were the sufferings of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics during their 15 year captivity at Seringapatam
imposed by the Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan
from 1784 to 1799, and the oppression of Goan Catholics
during the Goa Inquisition
. He was popularly referred to by his pen-name Khadap (The Rock).
locality of Mangalore. They were Mangalorean Catholics, and belonged to the Saldanha-Prabhu clan of Omzoor. Saldanha attended St. Joseph's Higher Elementary School in Mangalore. During this period, he wrote regularly to Abhyudaya (Development), the school's handwritten magazine in Kannada
. He was also very popular in writing and staging skits and short plays in school. He later joined St. Aloysius College
in Mangalore to pursue his intermediate studies.
Soon after his intermediate studies, he took up a job as a Physical instructor and a teacher of English
at the Padua High School in Mangalore. Saldanha was also interested in sports and physical development. He used to read foreign books on muscle building, and also used to train youth in weightlifting.
Later, he migrated to Bombay. With his good command of English and handwriting skills, he was offered a job by the Hindustan Insurance Cooperative Society. Saldanha resigned from the job in 1950, the same year in which he began his literary career.
, Saldanha had started and edited a Kannada
called the Kannadavani. Saldanha published his first six-page Konkani weekly Poinnari (Traveller) on 10 September 1950 in Bombay. Poinnari was the third Konkani weekly published by Mangalorean Catholics; the first being Konkani Dirvem (Konkani Treasure), published in 1912 by Louis Mascarenhas, and the second was Raknno (Guardian), a weekly published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore. Saldanha remained an editor of Poinnari till 1958. Upon his return to Mangalore that same year, he started a Kannada daily called Navabharatha (New India) in which he worked as the sub-editor. The daily later closed down due to lack of funds.
Saldanha had written 14 books on the sufferings endured by the Mangalorean Catholics during their captivity at Seringapatam
, the oppression of Goan Catholics
during the Goa Inquisition
, and the rule of Tipu Sultan
. He also authored a few detective novels such as Torichi Dal (Pigeon Pea), Tambddi Pitul (Red Copper) and Ruzvaath (The Evidence). Among his best known historical novels are Belthangaddicho Balthazar (Balthazar of Belthangadi
), Devache Krupen (By the Grace of God), Sardarachi Sinol (The sign of the Knights) and Infernachi Daram (The gates of Hell). All of these above novels deal with the arrest of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics and their deportation to Seringapatam by Tipu Sultan in 1784. In these novels, Tipu is portrayed as cunning, haughty, hard-hearted, revengeful, yet full of self control. On the other hand, he portrays the Mangalorean Catholic community of the eighteenth century as brave, hardworking and selfless. The Mangalorean Catholic characters of his novels such as Balthazar of Belthangadi, Sardar Simaon Prabhu of Omzoor, Sardar Anthon Shet of Falnir, Dumga Peenth and Agnes Kuvorn display tremendous courage, nobility and selfless service.
His novel Saiba Bhogos (Forgive O God!) deals with the Goa Inquisition and Portuguese oppression of the Goan Hindus and Catholics in the eighteenth century. Saldanha received wide praise and critical acclaim for his novels. One of his novels, Sardarachi Sinol, was even turned into a very successful play. Saldanha was also a poet; his best known poem being Konkanche Shethkaar (The Farmers of Konkan). In recognition for his prolific contributions to Konkani literature, Saldanha was the recipient of several awards, most notably by the All-India Writers' Conference in 1975.
. At the age of 44, he married Lilly D'Souza, a school teacher from Kasargod on 29 December 1969. The union produced two sons: Elvio Francis and Ransom. His eldest son died prematurely on 25 February 1981, aged 11. His wife died on 21 December 2009.
in Sociology
. He also developed an avid interest in Alternative medicine
(more specifically point pressure
) methods and Dr. Edward Bach
's herbal remedies. He co-authored a book on Naturopathy with Dr. I.G. Hukkeri. Later, he did a course in Naturopathy and obtained the ND, DHM, MD (AM) and RMP (AM) degrees.
The last decade of Saldanha's life was devoted to the compilation of an English–Konkani dictionary. This work entitled 20th Century English–Konkani Concise (Kannada
and Devanagari scripts) was never completed during his lifetime, and as a result, went unpublished. The dictionary contained the meanings of more than 160,000 Konkani words. On 16 January 1994, Saldanha was appointed President of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi by the Karnataka Government . Shortly after this, he suffered a debilitating stroke
, as a result of which he was confined to his home. He died of heart failure on 22 February 2000.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Konkani language littérateur, dramatist, novelist, short-story writer and poet. He made significant contributions to Konkani literature as a poet, dramatist, novelist, and a litterateur.
Saldanha maintained a strong Catholic identity in his writings, and his main themes were the sufferings of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics during their 15 year captivity at Seringapatam
Captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam
The Captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam was a 15-year imprisonment of Mangalorean Catholics and other Christians at Seringapatam in the Indian region of Canara by Tipu Sultan, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore...
imposed by the Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
from 1784 to 1799, and the oppression of Goan Catholics
Goan Catholics
The Goan Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Roman Catholics and their descendants from the state of Goa, located on the west coast of India. They are Konkani people and speak the Konkani language...
during the Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
. He was popularly referred to by his pen-name Khadap (The Rock).
Early life and education
Vincent John Peter Saldanha was born on 9 June 1925, the eight child to Martin Ligoury Saldanha and Theresa Saldanha in the OmzoorOmzoor
Omzoor is situated at a distance of 14 km from Mangalore to the north east and is surrounded by Neermarga, Belloor, Modankap, Fermai parishes....
locality of Mangalore. They were Mangalorean Catholics, and belonged to the Saldanha-Prabhu clan of Omzoor. Saldanha attended St. Joseph's Higher Elementary School in Mangalore. During this period, he wrote regularly to Abhyudaya (Development), the school's handwritten magazine in Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
. He was also very popular in writing and staging skits and short plays in school. He later joined St. Aloysius College
St. Aloysius College (Mangalore)
St. Aloysius College is a Jesuit college in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. It is situated on a campus atop Light House Hill, overlooking the Arabian Sea....
in Mangalore to pursue his intermediate studies.
Soon after his intermediate studies, he took up a job as a Physical instructor and a teacher of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the Padua High School in Mangalore. Saldanha was also interested in sports and physical development. He used to read foreign books on muscle building, and also used to train youth in weightlifting.
Later, he migrated to Bombay. With his good command of English and handwriting skills, he was offered a job by the Hindustan Insurance Cooperative Society. Saldanha resigned from the job in 1950, the same year in which he began his literary career.
Literary career
In MangaloreMangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, Saldanha had started and edited a Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
called the Kannadavani. Saldanha published his first six-page Konkani weekly Poinnari (Traveller) on 10 September 1950 in Bombay. Poinnari was the third Konkani weekly published by Mangalorean Catholics; the first being Konkani Dirvem (Konkani Treasure), published in 1912 by Louis Mascarenhas, and the second was Raknno (Guardian), a weekly published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore. Saldanha remained an editor of Poinnari till 1958. Upon his return to Mangalore that same year, he started a Kannada daily called Navabharatha (New India) in which he worked as the sub-editor. The daily later closed down due to lack of funds.
Saldanha had written 14 books on the sufferings endured by the Mangalorean Catholics during their captivity at Seringapatam
Captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam
The Captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam was a 15-year imprisonment of Mangalorean Catholics and other Christians at Seringapatam in the Indian region of Canara by Tipu Sultan, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore...
, the oppression of Goan Catholics
Goan Catholics
The Goan Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Roman Catholics and their descendants from the state of Goa, located on the west coast of India. They are Konkani people and speak the Konkani language...
during the Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
, and the rule of Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
. He also authored a few detective novels such as Torichi Dal (Pigeon Pea), Tambddi Pitul (Red Copper) and Ruzvaath (The Evidence). Among his best known historical novels are Belthangaddicho Balthazar (Balthazar of Belthangadi
Belthangady
Belthangady is the headquarters of Belthangady taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state in India. Belthangady taluk is mostly covered by forests. Western ghats provide scenic beauty, especially during the monsoon season that usually lasts from the month of June to September...
), Devache Krupen (By the Grace of God), Sardarachi Sinol (The sign of the Knights) and Infernachi Daram (The gates of Hell). All of these above novels deal with the arrest of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics and their deportation to Seringapatam by Tipu Sultan in 1784. In these novels, Tipu is portrayed as cunning, haughty, hard-hearted, revengeful, yet full of self control. On the other hand, he portrays the Mangalorean Catholic community of the eighteenth century as brave, hardworking and selfless. The Mangalorean Catholic characters of his novels such as Balthazar of Belthangadi, Sardar Simaon Prabhu of Omzoor, Sardar Anthon Shet of Falnir, Dumga Peenth and Agnes Kuvorn display tremendous courage, nobility and selfless service.
His novel Saiba Bhogos (Forgive O God!) deals with the Goa Inquisition and Portuguese oppression of the Goan Hindus and Catholics in the eighteenth century. Saldanha received wide praise and critical acclaim for his novels. One of his novels, Sardarachi Sinol, was even turned into a very successful play. Saldanha was also a poet; his best known poem being Konkanche Shethkaar (The Farmers of Konkan). In recognition for his prolific contributions to Konkani literature, Saldanha was the recipient of several awards, most notably by the All-India Writers' Conference in 1975.
Personal life
Saldanha was a devout Roman Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin MaryMary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
. At the age of 44, he married Lilly D'Souza, a school teacher from Kasargod on 29 December 1969. The union produced two sons: Elvio Francis and Ransom. His eldest son died prematurely on 25 February 1981, aged 11. His wife died on 21 December 2009.
Last years
In 1978 at the age of 53, Saldanha obtained his Master's degreeMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. He also developed an avid interest in Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
(more specifically point pressure
Pressure point
A pressure point in the field of martial arts refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner...
) methods and Dr. Edward Bach
Edward Bach
Edward Bach was a British physician, homeopath and spiritual writer, best known for developing his titular Bach flower remedies, a form of alternative medicine inspired by classical homeopathic traditions.-Biography:...
's herbal remedies. He co-authored a book on Naturopathy with Dr. I.G. Hukkeri. Later, he did a course in Naturopathy and obtained the ND, DHM, MD (AM) and RMP (AM) degrees.
The last decade of Saldanha's life was devoted to the compilation of an English–Konkani dictionary. This work entitled 20th Century English–Konkani Concise (Kannada
Kannada script
The Kannada script is an alphasyllabary of the Brahmic family, used primarily to write the Kannada language, one of the Dravidian languages of southern India and also Sanskrit in the past. The Telugu script is derived from Old Kannada, and resembles Kannada script...
and Devanagari scripts) was never completed during his lifetime, and as a result, went unpublished. The dictionary contained the meanings of more than 160,000 Konkani words. On 16 January 1994, Saldanha was appointed President of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi by the Karnataka Government . Shortly after this, he suffered a debilitating stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, as a result of which he was confined to his home. He died of heart failure on 22 February 2000.