Soter Barreto: An Unacknowledged Konkani Literary Gem

[augusto pinto]

Soter Renato Navarro da Piedade Barreto was born in Margao, Goa on 22 April, 1944. He studied up to the 5^th Year of the Portuguese Lyceum. Later he completed a B. A. from Bombay University. He worked as a civil servant for the Goa government until his superannuation.

He had worked for Konkani organizations and was General Secretary of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal. He also worked as Secretary of the All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan.

He has written various articles, poems and stories in Konkani for various newspapers and periodicals in both the Devanagari and Roman scripts. Many of his works have also been broadcast over All India Radio. They have also been published in translation by different magazines like Goa Today and have featured on Sahitya Akademi's journal Indian Literature.

He won awards from Konkani Bhasha Mandal, the Goa Konkani Akademi, Gulab and the Goa Department of Art and Culture.

xxx

I have never met him in person but over the phone I realized that he is getting on in years and finds it difficult to communicate. He also came across as a person who does not like to impose himself on others and in our world of fierce self-promotion this is a quality that is not particularly appreciated.

In the process I found his story 'Afrikanist' and then translated it into English as 'The Tiger from Africa' https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/goa-book-club/SopdD1hw2V0 Then I found 'Damu' which I also translated. Both of these stories are forthcoming in an anthology of Konkani stories in translation.

As I spoke with Soter over the phone I came to know that he wrote poems and that his poems were sent to Goa Konkani Akademi when Pundalik Naik was its head. He sent me some of his poems transcribed into the Roman script and I was fascinated by them. Recently Jose Lourenco who is the Vice President of the Goa Konkani Akademi told me that the poems of Soter Barreto are due for publication soon. I do hope this is done soon.

I don't shower praise lightly but I honestly believe Mr Barreto is an unacknowledged literary gem. I hope he gets the recognition which is his due reward soon.

xxx

Four of Soter Barreto's poems translated by me are given below:

Four Poems by Soter Barreto

1.

The Patranv's Gripe

The Patranv says

"Don't unneccesarily shout

Don't flare up

Don't create

Commotion.

Speak calmly

Show compassion;

The Patranv

Got up that morning

Ate an omelette

Of four eggs

Had bread

With butter and jam

And drank

A glass of milk.

The workers

Are still hungry.

2.

Fingernails

The mother, poor thing

Never had fingernails

As she endured widowhood.

She wore those nails out

Slaving

For them.

They on the other hand

Spent all their lives

Doing nothing else

But polishing their fingernails

Colorfully!

3.

I Can't Sleep

Are you angry?

No! No! Listen!!

I swear

I never had a clue

As to how to

Make love to you

How to wink at you

How to caress your hair

How to shampoo you

How to powder you

How to put cream on you

Where to take you

For ice-cream

Or how to hug you

How to seduce you

With sweet talk

I had no clue

How to do all this

Still I can't

Let go the sight of you

Why I ask? Why?

It's been a month now

When I think of you

At night

I can’t sleep.

4.

My Kaxtti

He came

And photographed

My kaxtti.

My red kaxtti

Became world famous

My kaxtti

Went on Exhibition

And won prizes

All of which he pocketed.

But I’ve

Still remained a mere kaxttikar!

(The kaxtti is a traditional Goan loincloth, usually of red coloured material. It is seldom used

nowadays except by poor elderly rural folk.)

Augusto Pinto

[Marise D' Lima]

Can we have the original konkani version ?

Marise

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[Eugene Correia]

Nice job Augusto. Also nice to know that your book of translated Konkani stories is coming out. I am reading Greatest Short Stories of Mulk Raj Anand. Ever since I read his Untouchable, I have liked his writing. He did pave the path for Anglian writing.

I am not too familiar with short stories in Konkani, except the folk tales translated by Lucio Rodrigues. As for Konkani-language books, I remember going through a couple of Reginald's "romanses" but with great difficulty. I think Gulab is doing well in publishing young Konkani writers. Don't know how much Amcho Avaz is encouraging this genre of writing.

Eugene

[Caroline Collasso]

I hope he gets d recognition he deserves...he is my Uncle and I remember his passion for Konkani n writing when we spent our holidays at his home in Margao.

[augusto pinto]

Dear Caroline,

Can you please find out more details about Mr Barreto? Whatever I could gather was over the phone and since he is getting on as you know even this was difficult for him.

Somebody close to him needs to look at his documents and manuscripts. I believe Prof Borges from Velim might be of help here.

Augusto

[augusto pinto]

Why don't you write to Goa Konkani Akademi, Marise? They are supposed to publish them. He has given them manuscripts in both the Devanagari and Roman scripts.

Augusto

[augusto pinto]

Prof. Sebastian Borges from Velim sent me the following article which I believe he wrote an published in a journal. When he informs me about the publication details I will update you. I'll also translate it when I have the time. (If anyone can do that before me, thank you!)

Soter Barretochi Sahityik Jinn

Soter Renato N. da P. Barreto hancho zolm Moddganv Saxtt hangasor 22 Abril 1944 hea disak zalo. Tachem xikxonn, mullavem ani modheamik, Purtugezintlean Licevachem 5vem vors meren zalem.

Uprant B.A. (Bombay University) podvi. Proyog-xallechem khas proxikxonn (Laboratory Technician Course) gheun Gõy sorkarachea Bholaiki Khateant 39 vorsam vavurlo.

1962 vorsa savn Konknnintlean borovop suru kelem, survatek sorgest Feliciobab Cardoso hanchea “GOENCHO SAD”hea satalleacher (1962-63), uprant tancheach “SOT” hea disalleacher. Magir LOKSAD satallem. Uprant DIVTTI ani NOVEM GOEM hea disalleancher. Punn chodd borop kelam tem Pa. Freddy J da Costa hanchea GULAB hea mhoinalleacher. Toxench bab Fausto da Costa hanchea THE GOAN REVIEW hea masikacher. Hem soglem Romi lipintlean zalam. Nagri lipintleanui zaitem borop uzvaddak ailam tem SUNAPARANT disalleant ani JAAG masikacher. Toxench KONKAN TIMES, UMALLE heai masikancher . Hea soglea
thollancher nibondh, lekh, kotha, kovita, khas khellancher lekh oxem borop to korit aila. Tachem borop Nibond ani Kovita sahitya Akademin chapplolea panch doskanchea kallant ektthaun venchik toren uzvaddoilolea sahitya-pustokamni aspavlam. Tachea Kovita ani kothanche jhele rokhddech uzvadda yeunche asat. Akashvannicherui tachem zaitem borop vitrailam.

Konkani Bhasha Mandal hacho to sorchittnnis zaun gela, tosoch Akhil Bharat Konkani Borovpianchie Porixhodecho sorchittnnis.

Tachea vantteak onek puroskar labhleat: 2007 vorsacho Konknni Bhasha Mandal (KBM) Seva Puroskar, 2008 vorsacho Gulab Masik Ut’tom’ Borovpi Puroskar, 2009 vorsacho KBM Potrkarita Puroskar, 2011 vorsacho Goa Konkani Akademi Shenoy Goembab Seva Puroskar, 2013 vorsa Gõy sorkarachea Kala ani Sanskruti Vibhagacho Sahitya Puroskar.

Konknnintlean borovpachi mull prernna mhollear tacho bapuy VAVRADDEABNCHO IXTT ani AIRTARACHEM VACHOP him saptallim neman haddttalo. Kednam-i DOR MHOINEACHI ROTTI. AITARACHEM VACHOP Pa. Caetano Lobo sompadit kortalo ani Dom Bosco Sonstha uzvaddaitali. Tem lhan bhurgeank pixem laitalem karonn tacher veongchitram (cartoons), kannio, vinodi lekh, humannim bi chhapun yetalim. Haka lagun Konknni vachpachi goddi lagli. Tachea ghorantuch prathmik xalla choltali. Dekhun iskolachea bankar bosche adinch to vachunk borounk xikil’lo. Tacho vhoddlo bhav Konknni romanxi haddttalo, chodd korun Reginald Fernandes hachio; tio to ratinchio rati foddun vachtalo. Nimannem Konknnintlean borounk laglo to Felicio babak lagon .

On Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 7:20 PM, augusto pinto <pint...@gmail.com> wrote: