Biography:Pournima Kerkar

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Pournima Rajendra Kerkar
Kerkar in 2026
Born
Paliem, Goa, India
Occupation
  • Author
  • folkorist
  • researcher
  • teacher
Spouse(s)Rajendra Kerkar
Children1

Pournima Rajendra Kerkar 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.

Early life

Pournima Kerkar was born in Paliem, Goa.[7] Her father was a teacher and she developed interest in the folkculture since her childhood.[7] She holds Masters degree in Konkani and Marathi.[7]

Career

Kerkar practices teaching at Dnyanprakash Mandal Bicholim's Higher Secondary School, Mulgao[8] Her work includes documentation and promotion of local folklore.[9] She has studied Goan festivals and rituals such as Dhalo, Dhillo,[1] Shigmo, and Aitaar Pujan.[10][11] She discusses the scientific and ecological basis of festivals celebrated in specifically in Shravan month.[12]

Along with Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade, Kerkar advocates for the use of indigenous food sources[13] associated with medicinal plants and wild vegetables through digital platforms.[14][15] She organised cultural Fiesta in June, 2014[16] and co-ordinated Purva rang programme for golden jubilee celebration of Kala Academy in 2019.[17] Kerkar scripted and acted in the play "Majhiya Anganat Saye" that showcased the culture, tradition, folksongs, festivals and rural lifestyle of Goa.[18] Besides her documentation, she is a recognised children's rights activist and organises educational camps for children.[5]

Kerkar's marathi book Vismrutichya Umbarthyavar[19] is translated in Hindi as "Chutati Paramparaye" by Vijaya Dixit.[20] Heta Pandit has translated the same book in English as "Objects from Goan Homes".[21]

Personal life

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 to any formal school and instead allowed her to learn on her own. Samrudhdi is a speaker at Tedxtalk.[22]

Awards and recognition

  • B. B. Borkar Memorial Award (1999)[23]
  • Green Teacher Award, Sanctuary Nature Foundation (2011)[24]

Selected bibliography

Translated into Hindias Chutati Paramparaye by Vijaya Dixit (2023)[20]

  • Storyteller of Goa, Subhadra Arjun Gawas (Translated into English by Heta Pandit)[28]
  • Kalij Usavala (2025)[29]

Translated into Marathi by Pournim kerkar

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Protect forests, tigers for water security: folklorist" (in en). 2022-08-27. https://www.gomantaktimes.com/news/goa/protect-forests-tigers-for-water-security-folklorist. 
  2. ↑ "Earth cult & tale of the seven sisters". The Times of India. 2018-07-25. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/earth-cult-tale-of-the-seven-sisters/articleshow/65135387.cms. 
  3. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar" (in en). https://www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/award/rajendra-and-pournima-kerkar#:~:text=The%20Kerkars%20have%20delivered%20over,and%20Netravali%20Wildlife%20Sanctuaries%20notified.. 
  4. ↑ "COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO DEVELOP THE GOA STATE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION". https://scert.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Final-Report-SCF-SE-Goa-1_opt.pdf. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar" (in en). https://www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/award/rajendra-and-pournima-kerkar. 
  6. ↑ "Over 6,000 people attend European Union film fest". The Times of India. 2012-05-08. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/over-6000-people-attend-european-union-film-fest/articleshow/13041664.cms. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "लोकसंस्कृतीचा नंदादीप : पौर्णिमा केरकर" (in en). https://goanvarta.net/story.php?id=76825. 
  8. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar" (in en). https://www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/award/rajendra-and-pournima-kerkar. 
  9. ↑ "Connect with culture & heritage: Gaude" (in en). https://www.thegoan.net//connect-with-culture-heritage-gaude/45105.html. 
  10. ↑ "For Good Health, Look No Further Than The Goan Garden" (in en-US). https://www.whetstonemagazine.com/south-asia-journal/for-good-health-look-no-further-than-the-goan-garden. 
  11. ↑ "For the prosperity and well-being of the family – 23 August 2015" (in en-US). O Heraldo. 2015-08-23. https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/for-the-prosperity-and-well-being-of-the-family/28552/. 
  12. ↑ "A congregation of Konkani-Marathi women writers – 29 August 2015" (in en-US). O Heraldo. 2015-08-29. https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/a-congregation-of-konkani-marathi-women-writers/30881/. 
  13. ↑ "Wild vegetables on the platter" (in en). https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/wild-vegetables-on-the-platter/35943.html. 
  14. ↑ "Aalucho Ros | Paneer Kadhai | Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar | Swaad Aswaad | S3E40 | Prudent | 040725" (in en). https://www.prudentmedia.in/swaad-aswaad/aalucho-ros-paneer-kadhai-rajendra-and-pournima-kerkar-swaad-aswaad-s3e40-prudent-040725/24771.html. 
  15. ↑ "Season’s eatings". The Times of India. 2016-07-03. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/seasons-eatings/articleshow/53026389.cms. 
  16. ↑ "Joy of reading workshop at 'Bookworm'". The Times of India. 2014-06-04. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/joy-of-reading-workshop-at-bookworm/articleshow/36015094.cms. 
  17. ↑ "Kala academy celebrates 50 years". The Navhind Times: pp. 3 Buzz. 17 July 2019. 
  18. ↑ "२०२३ : लक्ष्यवेधी महिला" (in en). https://goanvarta.net/story.php?id=52792. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Double Tracking, Coal Transportation and Heritage Houses" (in en-US). Business Goa. 2020-11-28. https://businessgoa.in/double-tracking-coal-transportation-and-heritage-houses/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Kerkar, Pournima (15 April 2023) (in hi). Chutati Paramparaye. Ahamedabad: Punarutthan Prakashan Sewa Trust. 
  21. ↑ "Writing to Preserve Heritage: In Conversation with Heta Pandit, Author, Activist & Researcher" (in en). 2025-07-27. https://www.theimpactsociety.in/post/writing-to-preserve-heta-pandit-on-documenting-heritage-through-words. 
  22. ↑ "TEDxPanaji" (in en). https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/20469. 
  23. ↑ "Home | The Goa Hindu Association". https://goahinduasso.org/award_borkar. 
  24. ↑ "Rajendra and Pournima Kerkar" (in en). https://www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/award/rajendra-and-pournima-kerkar. 
  25. ↑ "Six Marathi books released". The Times of India. 2012-04-26. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/six-marathi-books-released/articleshow/12874603.cms. 
  26. ↑ Kerkar, Pournima (27 August 2012) (in Mr). Anubandh Lokgangeche. Keri, Sattari Goa: Vivekanand Sahitya Sanskruti Abhivrudhdi Manch. 
  27. ↑ Das, Arti (2021-03-11). "A Goan tribe's relationship with the land that it tills" (in en). https://businessgoa.in/double-tracking-coal-transportation-and-heritage-houses/. 
  28. ↑ Kerkar, Pournima. "Subhadra Arjun Gawas - The Biography of a storyteller from Goa, India" (in en-GB). https://review.memoriamedia.net/index.php/6-article-5. 
  29. ↑ Mhambaro, Uday (19 December 2025) (in Marathi). Kalij Usavala. Bori - Ponda: Navdurga Prakashan, Bori - Ponda.. ISBN 978-93-91936-31-0. 




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