Datta Damodar Naik
Datta Damodar Naik | |
|---|---|
 Naik in 2025 | |
| Born | 30 December 1954 |
| Occupation |
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| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Sahitya Akademi Award |
Datta Damodar Naik (born 30 December 1954) is an Indian businessperson and writer. He is the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani and is part of the Monginis group.[1][2][3]
Early life
[edit]Datta Damodar Naik was born on 30 December 1954.[2] He graduated with a degree in mathematics.[3]
Career
[edit]Business
[edit]Naik inherited the family's old, dying business of importing confectionery and biscuits. He and his son now run New Millennium Bakers that produces Monginis products. They also run businesses in organic farming, logistics, real estate (Commonwealth Developers) and hospitality.[3]
Writing
[edit]Naik's first book was a socio-economic study of Canacon, followed by another on Valpoi, in 1973. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Konkani in 2006.[3]
Naik has also published regular columns in Marathi publications like Sadhana and Antaarnad.[4]
After releasing many books in Konkani and Marathi, in 2015, he released his first book in English, Uncommon Wealth – A Modern Day Panchatantra. The book is targeted towards children.[1]
Awards and accolades
[edit]Naik was awarded the 2016 Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani for his book, Jai ki Jui.[5]
In January 2025, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he was felicitated at a function by politician and writer Shashi Tharoor, who presented Naik with a painting by artist Subodh Kerkar.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Naik is based in Margao. He is also a philanthropist.[2] He is an atheist.[3]
He is a Saraswat Brahmin but has been vocal about his anti-caste opinions on multiple occasions. He thus started the Samata Andolan, a movement to work against Saraswat organization.[3] He has also been accused of hurting religious sentiments.[7]
Naik was also part of organisations and civil society movements such as Lokshakti. He also founded and convened the Dakshinayan Abhiyan in Goa.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pages full of Uncommon Wealth". Herald Goa. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Margao bizman donates Rs 1 cr to Konkani Bhasha Mandal, creates corpus". The Goan EveryDay. 28 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Coutinho, Tonella (27 June 2015). "He has his cake, eats it, and owns the bakery too". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Activist and Sahitya Akademi awardee Naik to be feted on 70th birthday". The Goan EveryDay. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ "Akademi Awards (1955-2015)". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Celebrating 70 yrs of impact: Datta Naik honoured for his contributions to business, literature and social activism". The Goan EveryDay. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ "Hindu activists lodge complaint against Datta Naik". The Goan EveryDay. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.