Mangalore: Konkani Poet Leo D Souza Awarded Mathias Family Poetry Puraskar -2009
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Dec 20: Konkani poet Leo D’ Souza has been awarded the Kavita Trust’s Mathias Kutam Poetry Puraskar for the year 2009. This annual award is conferred to an individual residing in any part of the world for his service of more than ten years towards popularizing Konkani poetry. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- a certificate of merit and a memento. The award is sponsored by Joseph Mathias of Kuppepadavu, Managing Director of Merit Freight Systems LLC, Dubai.
Popularly known as Liyab for his innumerable fans Leo John D Souza born on May 6, 1934 in Mangalore, is a well-known name in the Konkani literary circle having written more than 3000 poems in Konkani under the pen name “Kavyadas”. The collection of his poems has been brought out in the form of a book titled “Dev Haslo”, which is also published in English under the title “And God Smiled”. Kavita Trust has published his book “Zantyamchya Pavlamnim” (in the foot steps of the wise) and recently a collection of his poems “Devachim Dennim” (God’s gift) has been published. He has also published articles both in Konkani and Kannada publications on political, social and religious topics.
Leo D Souza has been chosen for this award in recognition of his relentless service to promote, popularize and keep alive the field of Konkani poetry; for his enormous contribution and sincere efforts to Konkani poetry by translating numerous poems from other languages and for inspiring and bringing out the talents among many poets of the traditional period.
In the year 2002 he was bestowed with Konkani Academy award for his contribution to the field of Journalism. For many years Liyab worked as the Associate Editor of Raknno Weekly and presently he is working as Manager at “Sandesha”, at Bajjodi, Mangalore.
Liyab has written a novel in Konkani titled “Putha Patim Ye” and has translated over 15 books from other languages including Pearl Buck’s “Satan Never Sleeps” and “Blood in the Mountain”, “Marcelino”, “Prince and the Pauper”, Martin Pores’s “Lad of Lima”,
“Rip Van Winkle”, “Around the World in 80 days”, “The Travels of Gulliver”, “Sinister Signpost”, “The Crisscross Shadow”, and “Jacob the Faithful”.
Kavita Trust introduced this award last year and the first recipient of this award was poetess Aruna Rao Kundaje of Mumbai. The award will be conferred on Liyab in the Kavita Fest scheduled on January 10, 2010, to be held at Madhadu Island near Barkur, in Udupi . Eminent Kannada writer and song writer Jayanth Kaikini will be the chief guest at the Kavita Fest. Eminent Marati film music director Anant Amembal and sponsor of the award Dubai-based businessman Joseph Mathias and his wife Flavia Mathias will be the guests of honour. Eminent poet from Goa Hanumanth Chopdekar will moderate the multi-lingual poetry session and Konkani poet Elyer Taccode will preside over the youth poetry symposium.
Poet Andrew D Cunha will preside over the seminar on `Why I Write Poetry?’ in which poet H M Pernal and Prakash Parienkar will present their paper. Antony Barkur’s book “Kaat tutcho Vel” will be released during the occasion. Kudumi dance by Babanna Naika and troupe will be a major attraction at the fest. Eminent poets from Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Mumbai are expected to participate in the Kavita Fest to be held at Barkur.