Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar

Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar Biography

Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar was a very popular Konkani and Marathi poet from Goa. 'Mazha gaav' is his most popular poem. He is also known by the names - Ba Bha Borkar and Ba-ki-baab. Mahatmayan dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and Tama Hstotra are other noted poems. Though known as a poet, he has also published a few novels, short stories, biographies and translated and edited a few works as well.

Borkar was born on 30 November 1910 in Borim, Goa in a Konkani speaking joint family. He was brought up in a religious atmosphere, filled with devotional songs, bhajans etc. His mornings began with bhajans and every child born in his family had to learn new Abhangs by heart. Borkar not only learnt Abhangs, but also composed a few in his childhood days surprising everyone. He published his first book at the age of 20. It was a collection of poems titled – Prathibha. He was deeply influenced by the beauty of nature and expressed through his poems as well.

He completed his primary education in Marathi and later completed studies in Portuguese language, as Goa was a Portuguese colony then. Later he was forced to discontinue his studies due to his financial status. However he managed to earn Portuguese Teachers Diploma and worked as teacher in different schools for long 15 years. Then he reached Mumbai in 1945 where he started his new career beginning as an editor for some Konkani periodicals. He also associated with AIR in 1955 where he worked till his retirement in 1970. He was honoured with Padma Sri in 1967. He passed away in 1984.

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Updated: June 16, 2014