Dr.Olivinho Gomes was a Konkani scholar and former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Goa University.
Dr Olivinho Gomes passed away, and it was sad to get this news from Valmiki Faleiro in Margao. When talking to my classmate Dr. Rafael Fernandes at the Goa University, he also mentioned the passing away of this scholar.
Dr Gomes was a prolific author and a deep supporter of the Konkani
language. Writers like Valmiki have narrated to me how his understanding and love for the language had influenced them decades ago.
Olivinho was a senior Customs official, before he decided to make the shift to the academic field. I first encountered him as a contributor to the Herald with his articles, mostly on Konkani and related themes, in the 1980s. Me being curious to understand Goa, and him always having some story to narrate, we would have longish chats when we met up at conferences, or chatted away while some Seminar was in progress.
Dr. Gomes also wrote a rather detailed book on Chandor, his village (it his in-laws’ vilage) called Village Goa. It is sad to lose a scholar so early, specially since Dr. Gomes was very active in writing and would invariably have a new book he had published whenever one met him after a three or six month gap!
The funeral is tomorrow (Friday, July 31, 2009) at 4.30 pm at the
Taleigao church.
Here’s a reference to his work from the openlibrary.org:
Born in 1943 –
Books by the Author:
Old Konkani language and literature
Konkani Sorospot Prakashan, 1999
Koṅkaṇī saraspatico itihāsa
Koṅkaṇī Saraspata Prakāśana, 1989
Village Goa, S. Chand, 1987
Ḍô. Phrā. Lu. Gomiś
Koṅkaṇī Saraspata Prakāśana, 1984
Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, jivit ani vavr
Konknni Sorospot Prokaxon, 1968
Mana voḍaṭāvoḍanā
Koṅkaṇī Sāhitya Prakāśana, 1981
Goa, National Book Trust, India, 2004
Village Goa, Chand (S.) & Co Ltd, India, October 1996
Eka Goenkarachi bhaili bhonvddi
Konknnni Sorospot Prakashan, 2007
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