19 Facts About Vinayak Khedekar

Vinayak Vishnu Khedekar was born on 29 September 1938 and is an Indian writer and folklorist.

Vinayak Khedekar has made contributions to the preservation and promotion of Goa's cultural heritage.

Vinayak Vishnu Khedekar was born on 29 September 1938 in Savoi-Verem, Portuguese Goa.

Vinayak Khedekar later became proficient in Marathi, Konkani, English, Sanskrit, and Portuguese.

Vinayak Khedekar was interested in folk literature and folk culture since his childhood.

Vinayak Khedekar learned singing and kirtan from Balubua Abhishekhi, the father of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, and performed kirtans in many parts of Goa and Carwar, then part of British Raj.

Vinayak Khedekar was a mentor to the Kala Academy, Goa and later served as its member secretary for 23 years.

Vinayak Khedekar has implemented various programmes showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of Goa, including Bhajans, Kirtans and contemporary art forms.

Vinayak Khedekar served on the advisory panel for folk art and puppetry of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, for the India Festival held in the Soviet Union.

Vinayak Khedekar promoted the revival of Indian culture and folk culture in Goa, which was affected by the Portuguese rule.

Vinayak Khedekar worked on documenting the Chitra Kathi tradition and Kalsutri puppets of Sindhudurg district of Konkan and achieving national recognition for these folk arts.

Vinayak Khedekar documented the folk art forms of Goa such as Shigmo, Dhalo, Dahikalo, Deknni, Jagar etc.

Vinayak Khedekar worked on the documentation of folk instruments in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Daman Diu, Gujarat and Rajasthan in collaboration with the Western Region Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Government of India and the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.

Vinayak Khedekar played a valuable role in organizing exhibitions of Indian folk arts by touring countries like the US and Russia.

Vinayak Khedekar received a scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

Vinayak Khedekar has actively participated in various committees and activities of organizations like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Sangeet Natak Akademi, National School of Drama, Indira Gandhi National Institute of Arts and many others.

Vinayak Khedekar worked as a journalist for the Marathi newspapers like Gomantak, The Navhind Times, Loksatta, and the Kesari, and was the Goa correspondent for news agencies Samachar Bharati and Hindustan Samachar.

Vinayak Khedekar has written a total of 18 books in Marathi, English and Konkani.

In 2021, Vinayak Khedekar was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.