Victor Rodrigues

Victor Rodrigues was born in the Anjelore locality of Mangalore, the eldest child of four children to a Mangalorean Catholic couple, Anthony and Charmine Rodrigues. While he successfully graduated high school, the family's poverty prevented him from enrolling in a college.[3] After his high school graduation, Rodrigues joined Simon & Company and worked as a painter, where he worked for a short period. He then sought a career in painting, after having learnt painting and art from a drawing master of St. Aloysius College named Peter. He received a job at Fr. Mullers Hospital in 1960, where he worked until 1972. Rodrigues later migrated to Bahrain in 1975, where he worked until 1995.[4] He was married to Celine D'Souza. The union lasted until his death and produced three children—Lolita, Veena and Santhosh.[4]

While working at Fr. Mullers Hospital, Rodrigues began his literary career writing for Mithr (Friend) and Jhelo (Garland), respectively Konkani weekly and fortnightly. He wrote his first novel Vibhadlelen Gharane (Ruined Family) in 1967 for the Konkani periodicals, Mithr and Jhelo. He wrote his first health related article on the topic of breast cancer which was published on Jhelo.[4] During his literary tenure, Rodrigues wrote 23 novels,[3] the most notable being Andhkarachea Khondkant (Fond of Darkness), Rogtachi Bobatt (Bloodcurdling Screams), Don Max and Paap ani Shiraap (Sin and Curse).[5] His literary works were published in 21 papers and magazines.[4]

Rodrigues's stories highlighted his revolutionary views and were usually directed against perceived social evils and social customs and systems, which he found degrading.[4] He penned his articles with the purpose of creating awareness about social justice.[3] His novel, Pratikar was serialised in the Konkani weekly, Poinnari, for almost 198 weeks, while Paap ani Shiraap ran for 219 weeks.[5] Apart from his novels, he wrote six plays and two biographies of Catholic priests, Fr. Sylvester Menezes and Fr. Marian Fernandes. Rodrigues also wrote a book on traditional medicines, entitled Bholaike Daiz (Treasure of Health).[5] His famous serial story, Paap ani Shiraap was selected by 'Mangalore Tele Films' for the first Konkani TV mega serial.[4] It was telecasted on DD Chandana channel under the title Kanni Ashi Mogachi (A Hopeful Love Story).[5]

Rodrigues was honoured by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi for his contribution to literature, in the year 2000. He also received the Daiji Dubai Award in 2006, and Francis Danthy Literary Award the same year.[5]