Mangaluru Konkani Writer H. M. Pernal Wins 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award
Mangaluru: Noted Konkani writer and journalist H. M. Pernal (Henry Mendonça) of Mangaluru has been selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award for his acclaimed literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
The Sahitya Akademi Award, presented by the Government of India’s National Academy of Letters, is among the country’s highest literary honours. Each year, the award recognises outstanding works in 24 languages, including the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as well as English and Rajasthani.
Konkani has been recognised as a scheduled language since 1992 and is widely spoken across Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The Sahitya Akademi has been recognising Konkani literature since 1975 and presenting awards for works in the language since 1977. Earlier recipients from Mangaluru include Cha. Fra. D’Costa (1992) and Melwyn Rodrigues (2011) for poetry collections, and Edwin J. F. D’Souza (2016) for a novel. Pernal becomes the fourth Konkani writer from Karnataka to receive the prestigious honour.
His book Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam has also achieved the distinction of being the first Konkani work in literary criticism to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. The book earlier won the Best Book Award from the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023. The work carries an extensive foreword by Jnanpith award-winning Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo and was published by Kavita Publications, Mangaluru.
Born in Pernal in Udupi district, Henry Mendonça completed his schooling and undergraduate studies at Hindu Junior College, Shirva, and MSRS College, and later pursued postgraduate studies in Mumbai. Professionally, a commercial accountant, he began his writing career in Kannada through magazines such as Taranga, Sankramana, and Shudra. In the early 1980s, he entered Konkani literary circles as a cartoonist for the magazine Yuvak and later established himself as a writer, poet, critic, editor, and publisher.
In 2011, he founded the literary online magazine Kitaal, which has been continuously published for over 14 years and has played a pioneering role in promoting digital Konkani literature by encouraging both senior and emerging writers. He also launched the literary periodical Arso in 2013 as a fortnightly publication. Now in its twelfth year as a monthly magazine under the editorship of poet Wilson Kateel, Arso has gained recognition for its annual special issues. Through his own publishing initiative, Kitaal Publications, Pernal has so far published more than 15 original literary works.
Pernal has authored four poetry collections — Chalyank Chatray (1999), Kaydyacho Kavita (2004), Bhamunanchem Chedum (2006), and Janel (2025) — two short story collections, Devak Sodullo Pado (2002) and Big Ani Bigat (2016), and the award-winning literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
His short story collection Big Ani Bigat received the Smt. Vimala V. Pai Best Literary Work Award (2017) instituted by the Vishwa Konkani Kendra in memory of the mother of noted entrepreneur T. V. Mohandas Pai. For his contribution to Konkani poetry, he received the Mathias Family Endowment Poetry Award (2018) from Kavita Trust. Other honours include the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi Best Book Award (2021), Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi Literary Honour (2022), and the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award (2023) for his contributions to Konkani literature and journalism. His book Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam also won the Goa Konkani Akademi Best Book Award in 2023.
With over 850 poems, more than 100 short stories, and over 2,000 articles to his credit, Pernal has played a major role in nurturing Konkani literature through both print and digital media. Since 2012, he has also instituted the Kitaal Young Writer Award, sponsored by Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Leo Rodrigues, to recognise emerging writers annually. The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.
Pernal currently serves as the Chief Editor of the Michael D’Souza Vision Konkani Book Grant Scheme, which provides financial assistance of up to Rs. 40,000 for the publication of books by Konkani writers. The project, with a total outlay of Rs. 40 lakh, is fully sponsored by philanthropist and NRI entrepreneur Michael D’Souza and aims to support the publication of 100 books over five years under the supervision of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra.
A respected leader in the Konkani literary community, Pernal served as the Executive President of the All India Silver Jubilee Konkani Literary Conference held in Mangaluru in 2023. He currently serves as Treasurer of the All India Konkani Parishad and has also been President of the Konkani Writers’ Association. He is presently a member of the Konkani Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi.
