# Sandesh Prabhudesai

Sandesh Prabhudesai is a Goan journalist (Print, TV and Digital), former students' activist, cultural worker and the author of ten books in English, Konkani and Marathi. He is specialised in analysing Goa's politics from socio-economic point of view. He is also a poet, and the Chairperson of ManoShobha Kalaghar, a cultural centre his family members have set up in their ancestral property amidst scenic beauty in Loliem-Polem village of Goa.

## Early and personal life

Prabhudesai's parents were freedom fighters, who participated in Goa's freedom struggle. He has been a vocal activist, right from his student days. He was active as a student leader of Progressive Students Union (PSU), Goa, in late '70s and the whole decade of '80s. He is also one of the founders of the Street Theatre of Goa. In the 1990s, he was the General Secretary of Goa Union of Journalist that advocated to enact India's first Goa Right to Information Act (GRIA) of 1997. He is married to author, actor and activist Prashanti Talpankar.

## Career

Prabhudesai started his career as a professional journalist in 1987 and reported for daily and weekly publications in both Goa and India. He writes in Konkani, Marathi and English. He is also the editor of goanews.com, Goa's first news website started by him in 1999. He has previously worked as editor-in-chief of Prudent Media and Goa365 TV channels in Goa. He also reported for BBC News, besides national media organisations like rediff.com, The Pioneer and several other national dailies and weeklies. Prabhudesai was also the editor of Sunaparant, Goa's only Konkani language newspaper. Prabhudesai is a part of the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) and is a judge for their journalism awards.
At the 2013 edition of Goa Arts and Literature Festival, renowned poet Gulzar released three books written by Prabhudesai - Ghusamat (Marathi), Taalgadi (Konkani) and Clear Cut (English). Clear Cut: Goa behind the Glamour is a collection of op-eds written by Prabhudesai, featuring articles written about subjects like the medium of instruction and the Archdiocese of Goa.
His 2022 book, Ajeeb Goa's Gajab Politics, covers the political history of Goa. It was released on the 191st birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule. The book describes how Goa's politics is not influenced by the usual factors such as caste and religion, but is usually dependent on the candidate. His 2024 book, Double Engine: History of Goa Lok Sabha Elections, was released before the 2024 Indian general election and covers Goa's history at the Lok Sabha Elections.

## Awards

* Bhaskar Award of Maharashtra Journalist Foundation (2011)
* Goa Konkani Academy Literature Award for 'Taalgadi' (2015)
* Konkani Bhasha Mandal Liteature Award for 'Taalgadi' (2015)
* Best TV Journalist Award of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2016)
* Felicio Cardoz Potrakarita Puraskar (2017)
* Konkani Prasar Madhyam - Kala Kaushalya Puraskar of Goa Konkani Academy (2020)
* Laxmidas Borkar Smruti Patrakarita Puraskar (transl. Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Journalism Award). (2022)
* Konkani Ratna by Kala Niketan (2023)

## Works

* Hanv Nastik Kityak हांव नास्तिक कित्याक (Konkani translation of Bhaghat Singh's 'Why I am an Atheist'; 2008)
* Ghusamat घुसमट (Marathi; 2013)
* Taalgadi तालगडी (Konkani; 2013)
* Clear Cut: Goa behind the Glamour (English; 2013)
* Goff गोफ (Konkani; 2015)
* Rasto Natya: The First Theatre रस्तो नाट्यः द फर्स्ट थियेटर (Konkani; 2018)
* Ajeeb Goa's Gajab Politics: Politics of Land of 7000 Years (English; 2022)
* Double Engine: History of Goa Lok Sabha Elections (English; 2024)
* Saath साठ A poetry collection (Konkani; 2025)