Mangaluru: Renowned Konkani folk artiste, 64-year-old M Gopal Gowda died due to cardiac arrest on Wednesday, October 2.

Gowda was an accomplished Kudmi folk artiste whose troupe had performed over 200 times across the country.

He was the first-ever Kudmi writer. He won several accolades for his contributions to the promotion of Kudmi Konkani folk art including the ‘Janapad Prashasti’ award from the Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2002, ‘Rajyotsava’ award from the Dakshina Kannada district administration in the year 2014 and ‘Mandd Sobhann Kalaakar Puraskar’ in 2017.

Gowda’s writings and publications presented, in detail, the Kudmi history, dialects, culture, traditions and beliefs.

His research papers have also been published in Konkani and Kannada periodicals, research magazines and text books. He had presented papers at several seminars and symposia. Gowda also presented shows on Doordarshan.

He also served as a guide and a resource person for several folklore enthusiasts who come to him from Canada, England, Germany and Switzerland.

Gowda also worked at St Aloysius College Konkani Institute for many years.