Damodar Mauzo with Nilmani Phookan. Behind Mauzo's wife Shaila, Fukan's wife and grandchildren
Gomantak Times
Eminemt Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo paid a visit to famous Assamese poet and winner of the 56th Jnanpith Award, Nilmani Phookan Jr, at the scenic village near Guwahati in Assam.
Nilmani Phookan was awarded with the 56th Jnanpith Award while Damodar Mauzo was awarded the 57th Jnanpith Award.
On the occasion of the Assam book festival held in Guwahati, Damodar and his wife Shaila visited Phookan at his home. Both the writers spoke about literature and spent time with each other's family.
While speaking with Mauzo, Phookan mentioned about how no one is into poetry these days.
Phookan had visited Goa in 1980 when the Sahitya Akademi was held in the coastal state. Back then, Phookan had visited the ceremony with late poet and scholar Umashankar Joshi. Remembering his time back then he said that he had written three poems on Goa.
Talking about the book festival in Assam, Mauzo said, "25,000 people were visiting the book festival everyday, wherein books worth Rs 25 crore were sold in just 5 days."