Pics: Anush Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jul 29: The 17th Konkani Kutam, Bahrain Award was conferred on Fr Prashant Madtha, a well-known Konkani-Kannada scholar and columnist in a glittering function held at St Sebastian Church Hall, Bendore on Saturday, July 28.
Noted Kannada writer and poet Jayant Kaikini, who attended as guest of honour, honoured Fr Prashant Madtha with a shawl and memento. Well-known Konkani poet and Central Sahitya Academy Award winner Melvyn Rodrigues, who was the chief guest, handed over the citation to Fr Madtha and convener of Konkani Kutam, Bahrain, Richard Moras, handed over a cheque for Rs 50,000 as the prize money of the award.
Wishing Fr Madtha, Jayant Kaikini said, “Nowadays we receive a bulk of information from various platforms and sources. In a way, our minds are filled with huge information which is more or less useless. The information which is filled in our minds influences the decisions of our lives. Free flowing thoughts are getting stuck. It leads us to become a human who always thinks negative and lives a discouraged life. First, we should clean junk from our minds. We should open ourselves and that will help us to become creative. Free thinking leads to better way of life. Fr Madtha is a free thinker. He has never restricted his thoughts to a certain subject or ideology. His books speak about his way of thinking.”
Melvyn Rodrigues said, “Confidence and dedication give success to a person. In the field of literature, that is more important, which helps a writer to become successful. Understating and grasping knowledge make a writer more successful. But these days, we cannot see dedication and confidence in our writers. They are after name and fame. This leads to the corruption of the entire system of literature and the true hardworking writers feel discouraged. Fr Prashant Madtha is a role model for our writers. He took many years to prepare 'Thesar’. That shows his dedication and commitment. Konkani Kutam Bahrain has chosen the right person for its prestigious award.”
Fr Prashant Madtha thanked everyone who helped him in his work of literature and said, “Languages should never have a particular boundary or frame. Every language has words borrowed from other languages. We can see this in Konkani too. So there is no fault if you are using the words of other languages in your mother tongue. It will help you spread your language. I applied this formula in both Kannada and Konkani languages. I am thankful to all priests of my congregation and supporters for their support in my literature work.”
Richard Moras briefed the work of Konkani Kutam Bahrain, CJS Tacode spoke about the programme and introduced Fr Madtha. Vithori Karkal welcomed the dignitaries and gathering. William Pais rendered vote of thanks. Titus Noronha led the dignitaries to the stage. Leslie Rego compered the programme.
About Fr Prashant Madtha
Konkani and Kannada people world over, have a unique place for Fr Prashant Madtha, a Jesuit of Mangaluru, more widely known in Karnataka. Among countless works in Kannada and Konkani, 'Padanidhi' the very first ever Kannada Thesaurus is one more crowning glory for this lover of Kannada.
He also brought out Konkani Thesar which is considered to be a treasure for the Konkani literature. He is known as 'Wordsmith' 'Second Kittel' and ‘Roget of Kannada'.
Apart from his literary work, Fr Prashant Madtha is a great orator known for his wit and humour. Fr Prashant Madtha holds a master's degree in Kannada with first rank and 3 gold medals. He has served as lecturer, principal and director at St Aloysius College in Mangaluru and St Joseph’s College in Bengaluru. He is also a noted author and columnist in Kannada and Konkani. As a gifted, creative and prolific writer, Fr Prashant Madtha’s contribution has enriched Konkani and Kannada literature.
In 2008, India Today weekly magazine recognized Fr Prashant Madtha as one of the '50 Pioneers of Change'.
Fr Prashanth Madtha and literature
Born in Sullia, Fr Prashant Madtha had his early education at Board High School, Sullia and PUC at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He then earned a degree with Kannada major and Sanskrit at University College, Mangaluru, Philosophy Theology from Jnana Deepa Vidya Peet, Pune, Masters in Kannada with first rank and 3 gold medals from Bangalore University.
Fr Prashant Madtha introduced Konkani as the second language for degree courses in St Aloysius College. Mangalore University granted affiliation to the subject on July 24, 1996. St Aloysius became the first and the only college in Karnataka to introduce Konkani as a subject and exams were conducted by the Mangalore University. Special scholarships were provided to the students who took Konkani literature as their second language.
Books authored
Books in Kannada: 1.Veera Virakta 2. KristhanaAnukarane 3. SaviraHoovugaluAralali 4.Ninnanthe Naanagalu 5.Saanidhya 6. Kannada Padanidhi (Kannada Thesaurus of synonyms and antonyms - 2007 reprinted in 2008).
Books in Konkani: 1.Kittallam, 2.Rattavoll 3.Konkani Pikollim (10,000 Konkani idioms), 4.Konkani Thesar.
Books in English: ‘On Eagle’s Wings’ (125 years history of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru).