Mysuru: Noted Konkani Poet and activist Vally Vagga has been chosen for the prestigious Daiji Dubai Literary Award-2019. The award will be presented to Vally Vagga during Daiji-Dubai Annual Day celebrations in Dubai on April 26, 2019. The award comprises a cash of Rs. 75,000 along with a citation and certificate.

Profile: Valerian D’Souza, popularly known as Vally Vagga, was born at Vagga in Bantwal taluk, Mangaluru, on July 27, 1947 and relocated to Mysuru. His first short story was published in Raknno Weekly way back in 1964. He never looked back since and worked continuously in honing his writing skills.

An active person in Konkani circles, he has written over 150 short stories, over 100 poems and articles. More than 40 short stories have been published in popular Kannada magazines. He has presented his short stories in Askashavani Mangalore as well as Mumbai and appeared in Doordarshan’s poetic sessions. Under his own Lourdes publication banner, four books have been published.

Vally Vagga has been awarded and honoured by Karnataka Sahitya Academy-2009 and Konkani Kutam Bahrain- 2012 for his contribution to Konkani literature. He can be contacted on Mob: 98452-71978.  

Daiji Dubai is a forum of actively dominant group of Konkani writers based in Dubai providing yeoman service to Konkani language and literature for the last 20 years.