Surat: To pay tribute to Father Carlos Gonzales Valles, Santokbaa Awardee and an eminent Gujarati author who left his imprint on his readers’ minds with 78 precious books during his five decades’ stay in India, Shree Ramkrishna Exports in Surat has instituted endowed scholarship programme in his remembrance.
SRK Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF) an initiative of the leading diamond company in Surat, aims to support education initiatives including PhD research work related to Gujarati literature and Mathematics in India with the fund. The scholarship is expected to benefit academically brilliant students from poor sections of the society in the country.
The late Jesuit priest from Spain, who distinguished himself in diverse areas such as Mathematics and Gujarati literature, was better known as ‘Savaaya Gujarati’, which means better than a Gujarati.
Father Valles passed away in Madrid, Sapin on November 9 at the age of 96. He has authored over 70 renowned books in Gujarati including Sadachar, Vyakti Ghadtar, Lagnasagar, Atmakathana Tukda and Shabdlok among others. He also contributed towards a new style of writing in Gujarati, using short sentences and conversational style.
Father Valles was bestowed with the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award by the SRK foundation along with Lord Bhikhu Parekh and Sudha Murthy for their exemplary contributions in respective sector which have very positively impacted the society and encouraged competitive ideologies amongst the youth in 2015.
Santokbaa Humanitarian Award, is a special award designed along the ideals of Santokbaa, mother of SRK chairman, Govind Dholakia for the aspiration of rising from the soil, positivity, love, care and collective growth. The award, instituted in the year 2006 honours the altruists from various fields who work tirelessly for the humankind.
Talking with TOI, SRK chairman, Govind Dholakia said, “We are deeply saddened at the loss of this gem from literature and Mathematics community. We believe that the best way to honour Father Valles is to help those pursuing the same subject of work, as this way he will continue to live on among us.”
Dholakia further said that the scholarship will support education initiatives including PhD research work related to Gujarati literature and Mathematics.