J. B. Moraes

John Baptist Moraes (1933 – 30 December 2014) was a Konkani poet and writer. He was based in Bombay (Mumbai), which he migrated to in 1951 and wrote in Konkani in the Kannada script. He was also the founder and co-editor of the Konkani Daiz (Konkani Traditions) monthly, he was on the editorial board of the Poinnari (The Observer) weekly, and in 2002 was appointed member of the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi, India's academy of letters.

John Baptist Moraes
Born	1933 Niddodi
Died	30 December 2014 (81 aged)
Pen name	J.B.Moraes
Language	Konkani
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Notable awards	Sahitya Academy Award; Sandesha Prathistan Literary Award
Children	Hector Moraes, Joseph Moraes, Merwyn Moraes, Peter Moraes
Relatives	Grand children : Denise Moraes, Trisha Moraes

Origins

John Baptist Moraes was born in 1933 in a village called Kallamundkur (also known as Niddodi) near Mangalore.

First Konkani writer from Karnataka

Mr. Moraes received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of Konkani poems Bhitorlem Tufan in 1985. He was the first Konkani writer from Karnataka to receive this Award. He received Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar in 1990 and Sandesha Prathistan Literary Award in the year 2000.

He has written a monograph of the great Konkani poet C.F. DeCosta for the Sahitya Akademi under the series 'Makers of Indian Literature'. He has also translated History of Kannada Literature for Sahitya Akademi. As a journalist, Mr. Moraes has a long experience of over 45 years in working with the various Konkani periodicals.

Reviving KBM-Mumbai

Mr. Moraes was elected President of the 19th Session of the All India Konkani Parishad held in Margao, Goa, in January 1993. Mr. Moraes was an instrumental in reviving the oldest representative body of Konkanis "Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Mumbai’, in 1992. He was its General Secretary since 1992. He was a member of the General Council and Konkani Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi. He was also Convener of the Konkani Advisory Committee of the Bharatiya Jnanpith.

In the year 2024, his long essay was translated into English (by KonkaniWorld.com of Ullas de Souza in Dubai), upgraded and edited to include and updated (by Pratap Naik SJ) and published as part of the 25th anniversary commemorative volume of 'Sod" (Search), the journal of the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr at Alto Porvorim in Goa.

Moraes died 30 December 2014 aged 81.

Poetry

• Novi Vhokal, 1977
• Bhitorlem Tufan, 1984
• Ek Dhent, Ek Paan, 2002

Short stories

• Kosheddan Kelli Khun, 1980

Biography

• George Fernandes, 1999

Plays

• Sopann-Parki Zuze, 2002

Verse

• Putipharachi Bail, 1990

Life sketches

• Mongllurchim Ujwal Ratna, 1983

Monograph

• Cha Fra DaCosta, 2001

Translations into Konkani

• Romeo-Juliet, 1954 (Play)
• Ontya Nashillem Sopann, 1975 (Novel)
• Novem Poinn, 2OO1
• Kannada sahityacho Itihas, 1989 (Literary History)

Adaptations

• Nisralleak Lotun Ghalo, 1976 (Novel)
• Bolpyam Modhli Sheli, 1977 (Novel)
• Zorlo Gomes, 1987 (Sherlock Holmes Stories)

Serialized epic poem

• Divyamrut, 1989

In English collaboration

• History of Konkani Literature, 2000

Contributions of articles

• Masterpieces of Indian Literature, 1997