Datta Damodar Naik | |
|---|---|
 Naik in 2025 | |
| Born | 30 December 1954 |
| Occupation |
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| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Sahitya Akademi Award |
Datta Damodar Naik (born 30 December 1954) is an Indian businessperson and writer. He is the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani and is part of the Monginis group. [1] [2] [3]
Datta Damodar Naik was born on 30 December 1954. [2] He graduated with a degree in mathematics. [3]
Naik inherited the family's old, dying business of importing confectionery and biscuits. He and his son now run New Millennium Bakers that produces Monginis products. They also run businesses in organic farming, logistics, real estate (Commonwealth Developers) and hospitality. [3]
Naik's first book was a socio-economic study of Canacon, followed by another on Valpoi, in 1973. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Konkani in 2006. [3]
Naik has also published regular columns in Marathi publications like Sadhana and Antaarnad. [4]
After releasing many books in Konkani and Marathi, in 2015, he released his first book in English, Uncommon Wealth – A Modern Day Panchatantra. The book is targeted towards children. [1]
Naik was awarded the 2016 Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani for his book, Jai ki Jui. [5]
In January 2025, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he was felicitated at a function by politician and writer Shashi Tharoor, who presented Naik with a painting by artist Subodh Kerkar. [6]
Naik is based in Margao. He is also a philanthropist. [2] He is an atheist. [3]
He is a Saraswat Brahmin but has been vocal about his anti-caste opinions on multiple occasions. He thus started the Samata Andolan, a movement to work against Saraswat organization. [3] He has also been accused of hurting religious sentiments. [7]
Naik was also part of organisations and civil society movements such as Lokshakti. He also founded and convened the Dakshinayan Abhiyan in Goa. [4]
Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Konkani people, primarily in the Konkan region, along the western coast of India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages mentioned in the Indian Constitution, and the official language of the Indian state of Goa. It is also spoken in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat as well as Damaon, Diu & Silvassa.
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The Konkani language agitations were a series of protests in India, concerning the uncertain future of the Konkani language. They were held by Goans in the former territory of Goa, Daman and Diu; then under the administration of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). The protests involved citizen journalism, student activism & political demonstrations. The civil unrest ceased when premier official status for Konkani in the Devnagari script was granted. Marathi was declared an associate official language of Goa.
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