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{{Short description|Indian writer (1933–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Nagesh Ramdas Karmali
| image = Nagesh Karmali, Goa.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|2|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kakoda, [[Quepem taluka]], [[Portuguese India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|2|9|1933|2|5|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Panaji]], Goa, India
| occupation = [[Poet]], writer, [[freedom fighter]]
| movement = [[Goa liberation movement]]
| education =
| genre = Poetry, plays
| notable_works = ''Jot'', ''Zonvar'', ''Vamshkullache Dene''
| awards = [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1992)
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
}}
'''Nagesh Ramdas Karmali''' (5 February 1933 – 9 February 2023) was an Indian freedom fighter, poet, and writer from [[Goa]]. He was a prominent figure in the [[Goa liberation movement]] and is recognized for his literary contributions to the [[Konkani language]], for which he received the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]].<ref name="TOIObituary">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-10 |title=Freedom fighter Nagesh Karmali dies at 90 in Goa |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/freedom-fighter-nagesh-karmali-dies-at-90/articleshow/97783102.cms |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Karmali was born on 5 February 1933 in Kakoda, [[Quepem taluka]], [[Portuguese Goa]]. His father was Ramdas Madhav Nayak Karmali. He received his primary education in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and Portuguese.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999">{{cite wikisource |editor-first1=Tanaji |editor-last1=Halarnkar |editor-link1=Tanaji Halarnkar |others= |title=Konkani Vishwakosh |trans-title=Konkani Encyclopaedia |wslink=Page:Konkani Viswakosh Vol1.pdf/377 |type= |edition= |series= |pages=351 |volume=1 |year=1999 |publisher=[[Goa University]] |location=Goa |language=gom |wslanguage=gom }}</ref> He developed a keen interest in literature during his childhood, influenced by the works of [[B. B. Borkar]], who was also his teacher in primary school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mauzo |first=Damodar |author-link=Damodar Mauzo |date=2 March 2011 |title=Art & Culture: Nagesh Karmali |url=https://www.artandculture.goa.gov.in/pages/artAndCulture/konkaniLiteratureOfGoa |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=Department of Art & Culture, Government of Goa}}</ref>

==Goa Liberation Movement and activism==
Karmali became actively involved in the struggle for Goa's independence from Portuguese rule. In 1952, he joined the Goa Vimochan Sahayak Samiti and participated in the Satyagraha movement. He was associated with the National Congress (Goa) and worked to spread nationalist sentiment in southern Goa under the guidance of [[Anthony de Souza (politician)|Anthony D'Souza]].<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />

On 16 September 1954, he entered Goa via the Terekhol border without a visa as part of a protest. He was arrested by the Portuguese police and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment by a military court. During his incarceration at Reis Magos and Aguada forts, he continued his literary pursuits and studied the history of freedom struggles. He was released in 1959 after serving approximately four and a half years of his sentence. Following his release, he continued to work underground for the liberation of Goa until 1961.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />

Following the liberation, Karmali participated in the [[Goa Opinion Poll]] of 1967, advocating against the merger of Goa with [[Maharashtra]]. He later served as the president of the Goa Freedom Fighters Association.<ref name="TOIObituary" />

==Career and literary work==
After the [[Liberation of Goa]], Karmali worked as a 'Staff Artist' at the [[All India Radio]] (AIR) station in [[Panaji]] from 1966 until his retirement in 1991. He was also involved in the labour movement in 1962.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />

As a writer, Karmali contributed significantly to Konkani literature. His notable poetry collections include ''Jot'' (1979), ''Zonvar'' (1979), and ''Vamshkullache Dene'' (1981). In 1992, he was awarded the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his collection ''Vamshkullache Dene''. He also adapted plays such as ''Kelu Janmejaya'' by Sriranga and ''Adhe Adhure'' by [[Mohan Rakesh]] into Konkani. He served in various capacities within the [[Konkani Bhasha Mandal]], was a member of the Goa Konkani Academy, and presided over the 13th Konkani Sahitya Parishad.<ref name="TOIObituary" /> Additionally, he worked on the editorial board of the Goa Gazetteer and the biography project for Goan freedom fighters.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />

==Death==
Karmali died on 9 February 2023 at his home in Panaji, Goa, at the age of 90.<ref name="TOIObituary" />

==Awards and recognition==
Karmali's literary work has been recognized with several honors:
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] in Konkani (1992) for ''Vamshkullache Dene''.<ref name="TOIObituary" />
* Goa State Award for literature.<ref name="TOIObituary" />
* State Sahitya Award from the [[Konkani Bhasha Mandal]] and the Goa [[Kala Academy]] for his collection ''Jot''.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />
* ''Tamrapatra'' from the [[Government of India]] in 1972 for his role as a freedom fighter.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karmali, Nagesh}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Writers from South Goa district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani]]
[[Category:Poets from Goa]]

Nagesh Karmali - Revision history

Bharatman: created basic bio more to come - done