J. B. Moraes

John Baptist Moraes (29 June 1933 – 30 December 2014), better known as J. B. Moraes, was an Indian Konkani poet and writer. Over his literary career, he has produced works across various genres, including poetry, short stories, plays, translation, and biographical literature. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985 for his poetry collection Bhitarlem Tufan.

He was based in Bombay, which he migrated to in 1951 and wrote in Konkani in the Kannada script. He was also the founder and co-editor of the Konkani Daiz (Konkani Traditions) monthly, he was on the editorial board of the Poinnari (The Observer) weekly, and in 2002 was appointed member of the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi, India's academy of letters.

Early and personal life John Baptist Moraes was born on 29 June 1933 to a middle-class family in a village called Kallamundkur (also known as Niddodi) near Mangalore. His father, Benjamin Moraes, worked as a schoolteacher in their village.

Works Poems Novi Vhokal, 1977 Bhitorlem Tufan, 1984 Ek Dhent, Ek Paan, 2002

Short stories Kosheddan Kelli Khun, 1980

Plays Sopann-Parki Zuze, 2002

Verse Putipharachi Bail, 1990

Life sketches Mongllurchim Ujwal Ratna, 1983

Monograph Cha Fra DaCosta, 2001

Translations into Konkani Romeo-Juliet, 1954 (Play) Ontya Nashillem Sopann, 1975 (Novel) Novem Poinn, 2OO1 Kannada sahityacho Itihas, 1989 (Literary History)

Adaptations Nisralleak Lotun Ghalo, 1976 (Novel) Bolpyam Modhli Sheli, 1977 (Novel) Zorlo Gomes, 1987 (Sherlock Holmes Stories)

Serialized epic poem Divyamrut, 1989

In English collaboration History of Konkani Literature, 2000

Contributions of articles Masterpieces of Indian Literature, 1997