Team Herald
MARGAO: Dr Jaivantrao Bhalchandra Suryarao Sardessai was presented the lifetime achievement award on his 90th birthday by Goa University Vice Chancellor Varun Sahani and noted writer Padmashree Suresh Amonkar along with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
The award is instituted by Bhimb, the Konkani magazine, and its editor Dilip Borkar said they had to change the award annually given to a person for his work for the Konkani language to a felicitate a person who by his work has impressed and motivated the younger generation.
In the citation presented to Dr Jaivant, it was pointed out that he retained Goenkarponn by returning to the soil where he was born despite having studied and worked in different countries. Dr Jaivant studied in England and worked there and also Portugal and got his PhD from the University of California.
Having established himself as an eminent entomologist, he undertook the challenge of dealing with the pestilence that had struck Argentina and worked there for some time before returning to his homeland Goa.
The citation noted that Dr Jaivantrao helped protect the various bandhs in Goa through his selfless service to the agriculture department. Dilip pointed out that while Dr Jaivant was receiving the first award of the magazine for lifetime achievement, the previous award which was the last for noted work in Konkani was conferred upon his daughter late Madhavi Sardessai.
He also pointed out that Dr Jaivant was very active in various social movements in Goa like the movement to re-align the Konkan Railway route, the Konkani movement.
Vice Chancellor of Goa Universtiy Varun Sahani observed that it was unfortunate that an eminent entomologist like him was not appointed as a visiting lecturer at Goa University and shared some of his very pleasant moments with him.
Suresh Amonkar who is a close friend of Dr Jaivant said the simplicity displayed by a person of such eminence was just unbelievable, while Chief Minister Sawant said that all had to learn about physical fitness from him and wished him to live till 100 years.
BJP South Goa LS Candidate Narendra Sawaikar along with BJP general secretary (Organisation) Satish Dhond was present for the function along with Minister Rohan Khaunte, MLAs Glen Ticlo, Prasad Gaonkar, Digambar Kamat and Filipe Neri Rodrigues.
Incidentally, Dr Jaivant is the father of Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardessai.
