Poetry
‘ANTARNAD’ was the first collection of poems by Saratchandra Shenoi. It was published in 1997. This book won the main award of 1999 in Konkani from the SAHITYA AKADEMI, New Delhi. Decades later, a silver jubilee commemoration edition, annexed with reviews and new poems, was published in 2022 by ‘Sanjana Publications’ Goa. The collection had won instantaneous appreciation and recognition. In ‘ANTARNAD’, poems are segregated into thematic sections. It has a foreword by Sri. Gokuldas Prabhu.
Shenoi’s poetry delves deep into the finer aspects of life, living and nature. The poems deal in subjects from personal experiences to deeper philosophy. The poet deals with abstract ideas of life and death as also with the concrete problems of the world. He is involved in society and holds himself as much responsible as the next man. With this stand, he surpasses the limits of self, society, language, religion, and nation, to become a citizen of the world. However, the poet defies classification.
At times cheery and at times gloomy, now angry, now critical and at times deeply philosophical, Shenoi’s silent thoughts resonate in his poems. Gifted with a keen sense of rhyme and rhythm, he is equally at ease with metre or without it. Poetry is also an instrument for him for charting inner depths as well as outer expanses. He does not don the garb of an idealistic, but by nature reveals himself as a humanist.
‘ANTARNAD’ was translated into Hindi by Dr. L. Suneetha Bai, and the book was published without changing the title in 2001 by Jawahar Pustakalay, Mathura, U.P.
‘ANTARNAD’ was translated into English by Dr. Pratima Asher, and the book was published as ‘INNER VOICE’ in 2021 by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
ATMAYAN
‘ATMAYAN’ was the second collection of Shenoi. It is inscribed to the memories of two veteran Konkani poets, Padma Shri Raghunath Vishnu Pandit and Dr. Manohar Rai SarDessai. The range and variety of the contents of Atmayan (Journey of Self) is not easy to be classified. It encompasses self, society, nature and the world. It touches the past, the present and the future. At times it is deeply personal and at times detached and objective. However, it resonates with the thoughts and feelings of the contemporary society. The book bagged the ‘Dr.T.M.A. Pai Best Konkani Book Award’ of 2010, instituted by Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation, Manipal.
IDAM NA MAMA
‘IDAM NA MAMA’ (This is not mine) was the third collection of poetry by Shenoi. It was published in 2017. The heart of this volume is the unique composition titled ‘Tatvartha Gita’, in which the poet summarizes the chief teachings of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. This book bagged the prestigious ‘Vishwa Konkani Poetry Award’ in 2018 instituted by Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Pratishthan, World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru.
SRIKRISHNA KATHA SUDHA
‘SRIKRISHNA KATHA SUDHA’ is devotional Shataka poem (108 verses) that depicts and describes the life events of Lord Krishna. The book, inscribed to the fond memory of Poet P. S. Ramachandra Shenoi of Palluruthy, had the good fortune to be released at a cordial gathering of veteran poets of different languages at SantiNiketan in 2006.
GEET SAROVAR
‘GEET SAROVAR’ is a small collection of songs. For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the Devanagari script, a version in Malayalam script is also included. The compositions could be classified as patriotic, devotional, lyrical and children's songs. Some of the songs express the love towards Konkani language.
GOSRIPURESA BHAJANAMRIT
‘GOSRIPURESA BHAJANAMRIT’ is a descriptive devotional composition in praise of Lord Venkatapati of Cochin Tirumala Temple. It was brought out as a booklet in 2015 for free distribution. The composition depicts events from the past history and also narrates most of the festivals of the subject temple.
GURUVACHANASUDHA
‘GURUVACHANASUDHA’ is another Shataka poem (108 verses) penned by Shenoi. It contains the essence of the teachings of Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swami, who attained Mahasamadhi at Haridwar in 2016. The volume also contains another descriptive poem titled ‘Sadguru Smriti’, in which Swamiji's life events are depicted briefly. The book has a foreword by Prof. Vasundhara Kamath of Alappuzha, and is published by Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute, Kochi.
KAVI ANI KAVITA
‘KAVI ANI KAVITA’ is a digital book brought out by Ashawadi Prakashan of Mumbai. It contains about 50 poems that touch upon ‘poetry and poet’.
SAKALCHIM SAVNNIM
‘SAKALCHIM SAVNNIM’ is yet another e-book containing 61 short poems. The book is brought out by Disha Institute of Konkani, Kochi. These poems touch upon a variety of themes and subjects. There is love, humour, thought, philosophy, sarcasm, criticism and more.