Vaman Sardesai

Vaman Balkrishna Naique Prataprao Sardesai (5 May 1923 – 6 May 1994) was an Indian poet, independence activist and diplomat. Along with Libia Lobo Sardesai, whom he later married, he ran an underground radio station, Voice of Freedom, that transmitted across Portuguese Goa from 1955 to 1961, advocating the cause of the Goan independence movement. Following the Annexation of Goa, he became the second editor of Goa Today magazine, and went on to become an IAS officer, serving as the Indian Ambassador to Angola. In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Shri. He has also been the co-convenor of INTACH.

Life and career Early life: Education, writing and radio (1923–1954) Vaman Balkrishna Naique Prataprau Sardesai was born to Bhalchandra Desai on 5 May 1923 in the village of Vadi, Portuguese Goa. Sardesai was a student of medicine at Escola Médica Cirúrgica de Goa when he was arrested in 1947 for distributing "anti-colonial literature". He was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment by the Portuguese Military Tribunal.

Following his release, he moved to Wardha and spent four years at Gandhi's Sevagram ashram. There, he worked with Ravindra Kelekar to publish Konkani language poems in their fortnightly publication Meerg, writing under the pseudonym of "Abhijeet". Sardesai travelled around Nagpur to help in the magazine's success and ensured that copies would be distributed across the country. His writings displayed his strong linguistic skills. He was skilled in Konkani, Marathi, and Portuguese languages. Even though he left his education incomplete, he taught language subjects in important educational institutions in Panaji.

They initially lived in the jungles of Amboli Ghat, from Goa, transmitting an hour-long programme. After Menezes and his wife left, Sardesai and Lobo shifted to Castle Rock, Karnataka ( from Goa). after which he went on to serve as the Indian Ambassador to Angola from 1988 to 1991. He was also the co-convenor of INTACH.

Awards While serving as the Indian Ambassador to Angola, Sardesai was awarded a medal by their Prime Minister for his meritorious service. In 1992, Sardesai was awarded the Padma Shri.