An alumnus of Goa College of Art, Panaji, hailing from Mahalaxmi, Bandora-Ponda, Gautam Kamat Bambolkar has won the gold prize at the World Nature Photography Awards 2021 held in the United Kingdom (UK). The World Nature Photography Awards, UK, commemorate and applaud the world’s finest nature photographers, while at the same time showcasing the planet’s magnificence to a diverse number of people. There are a number of categories like photo-journalism, landscape photography, animal portraits, and urban wildlife, etc. Amateur and professional photographers send their entries from across the world and are selected on the basis of artistic merit, subject, originality, and style. Bambolkar’s photograph of an abandoned house in Raia was selected from among the many other entries that were submitted. This photograph titled ‘The Abandoned’ won the prize under the ‘Plants and Fungi’ category.
Sanjay Amonkar is Director General of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Sanjay Amonkar has been appointed as the new Director General of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI). A student of Bombay University and an alumni of IIM Bangalore, Amonkar is a qualified Mechanical Engineer. He started his career in mechanical maintenance and has multiple work experience in chemical production, foreign trade, procurement, logistics, supply chain, and SAP. Amonkar has over 32 years of experience in the Chemical and Fertiliser Industry as a Senior Techno – Commercial lead. He has also worked in seven major Ports in India and is knowledgeable in Bulk Rail Cargo Movement.
Sanjiv Verenkar wins Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 for Konkani literature
Sanjiv Verenkar, a renowned Goan poet and senior journalist has won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 for his collection of poems in the Konkani language titled Raktachandan.
A social poet, Verenkar has been an active contributor to the growing body of Konkani literature since 1978. He is the author of 17 books, nine of which are poetry collections; some of his poems have been translated into English and published in a collection titled Village Evening. The title of his poetry collection, Raktachandan, is the name of an herbal ointment that would have been used as an analgesic in the olden days. Verenkar believes poetry to be a sort of analgesic which when applied relieves the person of their pain.
The poems represent the way in which Verenkar views his literary creations and convey his philosophy of life by providing the readers with ideas to tackle the problems in their lives.
Pallavi Arondekar appointed Director of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry
The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has appointed Pallavi Arondekar as Director of GCCI. Arondekar started her career in Mumbai as a manager of Corporate Communications for a public limited company. A science graduate from Parle College, a Diplôme de langue from Alliance Française de Bombay, and an alumnus of the Xavier Institute of Communications, Arondekar has conducted workshops on communication and image for college students as well as corporate employees. Arondekar began her stint in GCCI in 2009 as Assistant Director handling Education, Tourism, IR and HR Committees of the Chamber. She also edits the Chamber’s monthly bulletin.
Dr. Vinaykumar Pai Raikar to receive Rotary Intl’s ‘Service Above Self Award’
Rotary International’s highest honour, the ‘Service Above Self Award’ 2021-22 will be awarded to Dr. Vinaykumar Pai Raikar. A gynecologist by profession, he is the founder of, and presently practising at Raikar Nursing Home at Panaji, Goa.
Raikar is an active Rotarian of Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown since 1999 and has served in various capacities at club level. His achievements at District level were Best Secretary (2004-05), Best President (2007-08) along with 6 district awards and making his club a 100% PHF club and contributing over 100,000 USD to The Rotary Foundation with a per capita contribution of USD 1570. He has served at the district level as District Chairman Coordinator (community service, club service, TRF assignments viz, District Simplified Grants, Annual Giving, GSE outbound). He has been a proficient speaker and has been on many a platform of Rotary in the district as keynote speaker, facilitator or as a pilot faculty. Raikar served as the Rotary District 3170 Governor in 2016-17.
