Popularly known as ‘Rajani tai’ in the field of Konkani literature, Late Rajani Bhembre was an ever smiling person always active in social work. I offer my tributes to her on her first death anniversary. I do not recall any instance where she has denied participating in any work.
Initially, as I recollect, I only knew her as a teacher from Sarvodaya Education Society of Curchorem, but later as we had more and more encounters in various literary endeavours, I fortunately got to interact with her closely. Sheer dedication and readiness in working for the Konkani language, its literature and the culture were some of her distinguished qualities.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Many a times it so happened that a particular organisation or a thought takes strong roots and receives acceptance from the public because of the person promoting it. At that time, when Konkani was treated as a dialect of Marathi at that time in Curchorem, it was a Herculean task to sow the seeds of Konkani in there. Even then, being a soft spoken calm person and moreover a teacher by virtue, the efforts of Rajani tai bore fruits as the people there started accepting her and along with the Konkani language and the idea to make it mainstream. This dedication of Rajani tai soon grew into the founding of ‘Konkani Sahitya and Kala Kendra’ at Curchorem.
She was the founder member of this organisation and actively served it for more than 30 years while handling all the other duties and responsibilities from time to time. Through this organisation she managed to provide a permanent platform to the Konkani language and literature.
It won’t be untrue to say that she made the best use of her role in the society as teacher and her down to earth nature to aid the Konkani movement. She organised many children’s get together programmes and literary festivals through this organisation. She was also successful in organising a Natya Sammelan (drama festival) in Curchorem which was one of a kind. She proved her organisational skills when she brought together the local Self Help Groups of women from nearby areas and involved them in organisation of such mega programmes.
Before founding this organisation she was actively involved in the prevalent movement to make Konkani the State language. She was also involved in the fasting protest organised at Azad Maidan, Panjim towards this cause.
Rajani tai was highly creative and innovative in her writing, having her own unique style of story writing. I was invited as the guest of honour for the release function of her book ‘Ghusmat’ (suffocation) where I also got the opportunity to speak on it. “Dear Bhushan, kindly feel free to speak about the positives as well as the shortcomings of the book” were her words to me before the programme began. As of today those words still resonate in my ears.
As said by ‘Dnyanpeeth’ awardee Damodar Mauzo, Rajani tai was drawn towards writing children’s literature as it was the need of the hour in the Konkani movement. If she had continued writing stories other than children’s literature, she would definitely have been a prominent name in that field. Today we know her as a children’s literature writer rather than a story writer which is truly an injustice to her story writing.
Rajani tai raised children’s literature to new heights by publishing 15 books in that field. Even though she has two story collections to her credit namely (Ghusmat and Niyatichi Ashadh Pavli) she is well known in the Konkani literary world as an author of children’s literature. Her consistency and broad topics that she covered in the children’s literature (biography, interviews, stories, articles, poems etc) are worth appreciating.
For her dedication and consistency in the field of literature and social work she was honoured with various State awards namely ‘Yashadamini’ ‘Kalagaurav’ etc. Goa Konkani Akademi and Konkani Bhasha Mandal and other such organisations have also honoured her with their awards.
A creative and innovative writer, a down to earth personality and a social activist, late Rajani Bhembre was a pillar of the Konkani revolution.
