Balakrishna Dattatreya Satoskar

Balkrishna Dattatreya Satoskar (26 March 1909 – 27 November 2000) was an Indian historian, freedom fighter, publisher, journalist, and librarian. Born in Marcel, Goa, he authored numerous books in Marathi and Konkani. He is best known for Gomantak Prakriti ani Sanskriti (Goa: Nature and Culture), an encyclopedic six-volume work on the history and culture of Goa and Goans, of which three volumes were published.

Early life and education Balkrishna Dattatreya Satoskar was born on 26 March 1909 in Marcel, Goa. His family, originally bearing the surname Kamat, was originally from Goa. His ancestors migrated to Satoshe in Sawantwadi State, where they served as Kulkarnis (village scribes), before eventually returning to Goa to engage in trade.

He began his education at Saraswati Vidyalaya in Mapusa. He completed primary and secondary schooling in the Portuguese language and attended a lyceum, though he left during his fourth year. He later completed his matriculation in English medium. Satoskar briefly attended an art school in Bombay for higher education in sculpture but did not complete the course. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree. Although he was unsuccessful in his Master of Science examination, he later answered the Library Science examination at the age of 44, securing the first rank.