Pournima Kerkar

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Last edited July 22, 2026


Pournima Rajendra Kerkar
Born
Paliem, Goa, India
Occupation
  • Author
  • folkorist
  • researcher
  • teacher
Spouse(s)Rajendra Kerkar

Pournima Rajendra Kerkar (1972) is an Indian author, folklorist,[1] researcher[2] and teacher who writes about eco-cultural heritage of Goa and neighbouring regions.[3] She is a member of State Level Steering Committee for implementation of National Education Policy 2020.[4] The Green Teacher Award of Sanctuary Nature Foundation was awarded for contribution in environment education, conservation and social work.[5] Additionally she is the president of the Vivekanand Sahitya Sanskruti Abhivrudhdi Manch[6] and Vivekanand Prerana Pratisthan.

Career[edit | edit source]

Kerkar is a teacher at Dnyanprakash Mandal Bicholim's Higher Secondary School, Mulgao[7] and holds Masters degree in Konkani and Marathi.[8] Her work includes documentation and promotion of local folklore.[9] She has studied Goan festivals and rituals such as Dhalo, Dhillo,[10] Shigmo, Dovali Maand[11] and Aitaar Pujan.[12][13] She discusses the scientific and ecological basis of festivals celebrated in specifically in Shravan month.[14]

Along with Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade based at Keri in sattari Taluka, Kerkar advocated for the use of indigenous food sources[15] and shared the traditional knowledge associated with medicinal plants and wild vegetables through digital platforms.[16][17] She organised cultural Fiesta in June, 2014[18] and co-ordinated Purva rang programme for golden jubilee celebration of Kala Academy in 2019.[19] Kerkar has scripted and acted in the play "Majhiya Anganat Saye" that showcased the culture, tradition, folksongs, festivals and rural lifestyle of Goa.[20] Besides her documentation, she is a recognised children's rights activist and organises educational camps for children.[5]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Kerkar was born in Paliem, Goa.[21] Her father was a teacher and she developed interest in the folkculture since her childhood.[22] She was employed as a teacher at Dnyanprakash Mandal Bicholim's Higher Secondary School, Mulgao. Following her marriage to environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, she moved to Sattari and resides in Keri village situated at the foothills of Western Ghats. They chose not to send their daughter Samrudhdi[23] to any formal school and instead allowed her to learn on her own. Samrudhdi is a speaker at Tedxtalk.[24]

Her marathi book Vismrutichya Umbarthyavar[25] is translated in Hindi as "Chutati Paramparaye" by Vijaya Dixit.[26] Heta Pandit has translated the same book in English as "Objects from Goan Homes".[27]

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

Selected bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Spandan (poetry)[30]
  • Govyatil Dhalotsavache Swarup[31]
  • Anubandh Lokgangeche[32]
  • Vismrutichya Umbarthyavar[25][33]

Translated into Hindi as Chutati Paramparaye by Vijaya Dixit(2023)[26]

  • Storyteller of Goa, Subhadra Arjun Gawas (Translated into English by Heta Pandit)[34]
  • Kalij Usavala(2025)[35]

Translated into Marathi by Pournim kerkar

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Digital, G. T. (27 August 2022). "Protect forests, tigers for water security: folklorist". Goa Travel News on Gomantak Times. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Earth cult & tale of the seven sisters". The Times of India. 25 July 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar". www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO DEVELOP THE GOA STATE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION" (PDF).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar". www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Over 6,000 people attend European Union film fest". The Times of India. 8 May 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar". www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "लोकसंस्कृतीचा नंदादीप : पौर्णिमा केरकर". गोवन वार्ता. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Connect with culture & heritage: Gaude". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Digital, G. T. (27 August 2022). "Protect forests, tigers for water security: folklorist". Goa Travel News on Gomantak Times. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  11. ↑ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/dovali-maand-gudulya-kani-echo-goas-fading-folk-legacy/articleshow/131295976.cms
  12. ↑ "For Good Health, Look No Further Than The Goan Garden". Whetstone Magazine. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "For the prosperity and well-being of the family – 23 August 2015 | O Heraldo". 23 August 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "A congregation of Konkani-Marathi women writers – 29 August 2015 | O Heraldo". 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Wild vegetables on the platter". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Aalucho Ros | Paneer Kadhai | Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar | Swaad Aswaad | S3E40 | Prudent | 040725". www.prudentmedia.in. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Season's eatings". The Times of India. 3 July 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Joy of reading workshop at 'Bookworm'". The Times of India. 4 June 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kala academy celebrates 50 years". The Navhind Times. 17 July 2019. pp. 3 Buzz.
  20. ↑ "२०२३ : लक्ष्यवेधी महिला". गोवन वार्ता. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "लोकसंस्कृतीचा नंदादीप : पौर्णिमा केरकर". गोवन वार्ता. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "लोकसंस्कृतीचा नंदादीप : पौर्णिमा केरकर". गोवन वार्ता. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  23. ↑ https://www.prudentmedia.in/jungle-book
  24. ↑ "TEDxPanaji". www.ted.com. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Double Tracking, Coal Transportation and Heritage Houses | Business Goa". 28 November 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Kerkar, Pournima (15 April 2023). Chutati Paramparaye [Chutati Paramparaye] (in Hin). Ahamedabad: Punarutthan Prakashan Sewa Trust (published 15 April 2013).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  27. ↑ Team, Editorial (27 July 2025). "Writing to Preserve Heritage: In Conversation with Heta Pandit, Author, Activist & Researcher". Impact. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Home | The Goa Hindu Association". goahinduasso.org. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar". www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  30. ↑ Suddha!, Aani Mi (13 July 2010). "aani mi suddha!: "spandan" the poetry collection book of pournima kerkar,s released (पौर्णिमा केरकर यांच्या पुस्तकाचे प्रकाशन )". aani mi suddha!. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Six Marathi books released". The Times of India. 26 April 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  32. ↑ Kerkar, Pournima (27 August 2012). Anubandh Lokgangeche (in मराठी). Keri, Sattari Goa: Vivekanand Sahitya Sanskruti Abhivrudhdi Manch.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  33. ↑ Das, Arti (11 March 2021). "A Goan tribe's relationship with the land that it tills". mint. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  34. ↑ Kerkar, Pournima. "Subhadra Arjun Gawas - The Biography of a storyteller from Goa, India". review.memoriamedia.net. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  35. ↑ Mhambaro, Uday (19 December 2025). Kalij Usavala (in Marathi). Bori - Ponda: Navdurga Prakashan, Bori - Ponda. ISBN 978-93-91936-31-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
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