Mangalore: Konkani Prachar Sanchalan launches campaign to promote language


Mangalore: Konkani Prachar Sanchalan launches campaign to promote language

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 15: With the aim of giving importance to Konkani language in schools and colleges, the Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in collaboration with Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has started a Konkani awareness campaign to promote the language and take it to the next generation.

The campaign was launched by Kasargod Chinna, president of Konkani Sahitya Academy along with theatre artiste Kalagangotri Kitti and other dignitaries by handing over the flag at the Academy office in Lalbagh here on Friday February 15.

As part of the campaign, ‘Kalakul Repetory’ of Mandd Sobhann presented a street play called ‘Konkani Amcho Fudar’ ('Konkani is our future'). The campaign will be held at 40 places in twin districts from February 15 to March 17 where the street play will be performed.

The street play conveys a message on how regional language dies if measures are not taken to promote it among the young generation. It stresses on the dire need of preserving the language. The play has been written by Arun Raj Rodrigues and directed by Christopher D’Souza Neenasam.

The campaign is an effort put forth by the Konkani Prachar Sanchalan so that many more students take up Konkani language in their academic studies, which in turn would help in preserving the language for posterity.

The icing on the cake was when a member of the audience, A J D’Souza, wept after watching the play and said that he would speak Konkani in his day-to-day life and would also help in promoting the language.

Roy Castelino, president of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in his welcome address said around 60 students appeared for the Konkani SSLC exam last year and 72 students are preparing for the same this year. "The Sanchalan’s intention is to make at least 500 students write Konkani SSLC exam by 2018," he said.

"We are trying to promote the language among the young generation through this street play," said Kasargod Chinna, "This is good move by the Konkani Prachar Sachalan to promote the language.

"Let the campaign be state-wide with many programmes to promote the language," said Chinna, assuring his support on behalf of the Academy. Chinna also thanked Konkani teachers for their dedication and commitment to this task.

Vitori Karkal compered while Anil D’Cunha, secretary of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan delivered the vote of thanks.

Eric Ozario, Mandd Sobhann Gurkar, Stany Alvares, president of Mandd Sobhann, Louis J Pinto, Fr Francis Rodrigues, Devdas Pai, registrar of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, Konkani teachers of various colleges among others were present.

The street play will be held at St Lourdes Central School at 1 pm, St Agnes College at 2 pm and St Aloysius College at 3.30 on Friday February 15.


Bishop’s message on the initiative

The initiative of promoting the language was also supported by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore diocese. "Konkani is our mother tongue, it is our duty to preserve and take the language to the next generation and this can be possible only if we write and read it," said the Bishop.

"The Karnataka government has given us the permission to teach Konkani as the third optional language in schools from class 6 to class 10. Hence, this opportunity should be utilized by the children and parents should take keen interest in supporting them," he said.

He also wished good luck for the praiseworthy initiative taken up by Konkani Prachar Sanchalan.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Dolfy Dcunha, Bangalore

    Mon, Feb 18 2013

    To save our Konkani Language, we need the continuous support of all our fellow Konkani brothers and sisters to help this cause and fight for it together until our aim is fulfilled. We should also encourage our younger generation to attend all the konkani events which will help to keep our language alive.

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  • Edwin Dsouza, Bangalore

    Sat, Feb 16 2013

    Konkan should be taught first to our kids at home..the younger generation are very fond of konglish...due to which our own Mother tongue will die soon with out any trace, we konkanis should wake up and unite together to keep our language alive for our future generation.. hats of to the Academy for their efforts.. and I call upon all our Konkani brotherns to support this cause...

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  • Francis Lewis, Sastan / Bangalore

    Sat, Feb 16 2013

    We the Bangalorians facing lots of Problems to have One Mass in Konkani on Sunday in our Churches as some of them thinking that this language is not belongs to Karnataka. At Present Konkani Massas are conducted only in Mangalore, Udupi District. Kindly give the importance to this language and allow us to have Konkani Masses on Sundays in Bangalore to have peace.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore / Kwt

    Sat, Feb 16 2013

    Language could also be promoted through displaying signboards and advertisements in Konkani. In Mangalore one can see signboards in Malayalam at public installations like railway station, airport and hospitals, why not in Konkani? The outsiders coming to the city should be made to realize that Konkani is also one the major local languages. The Goa Govt. has already started issuing birth certificates in Konkani/English format, a positive step in promoting the language.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • V.Baretto, Bantwal-Bangalore

    Sat, Feb 16 2013

    We love our mother tongue Konkani.Unfortunately barring Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Disticts no where the konkani language is given importance. No konkani service is available in any of the churches in Bangalore and other surrounding Disticts on Sundays. Our attempts failed and it is a shame to us, konkanis.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter/Leni, Bolkunje/Mangalore

    Sat, Feb 16 2013

    Watched the skit in Valencia church compound. An excellent presentation. Wish they go around all institutions so that more parents are aware and press their children to do their conversation in Konkani whether pure impure .

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Patrick Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Feb 15 2013

    Kindly put more effort on teaching pure Konkani..Mangalorean Konkani especially catholics spoken Konkani has many Tulu and Kannada words..majority of Mangaloreans do not know numbers in Konkani.either they say in Kannada or English..Irrespective of age Konkani community should learn proper and pure Konkani..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • rajesh, mulki

    Fri, Feb 15 2013

    All the best to KONKANI .Let every konkanite teach his kids this language at home..and let it continue for generations to come..
    At the same time ,it would be more better if the GSB representation is more in this kind of campaign..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse


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