Udupi: Karnataka Konkani Academy Bestows Awards on Prominent Personalities
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 29: Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy bestowed awards on prominent personalities belonging to Konkani community, at a function held at the Gitanjali Mantap of MGM College here, on Sunday, March 28.

Dr V S Acharya, stae home minister, presented the awards for the year 2009.  V V Shenoy received the honorary award for his overall contribution to Konkani language.  Vally Vagga got the same award for his contribution to Konkani literature, while Richard Castelino was handed over this award for his illustrious contributions to Konkani art and cinema.  The award carries cash component of Rs 10,000, a memento and a certificate.

Awards were also conferred on Cyril G Sequeira and M P Rodrigues  in the ‘Best Konkani Books’ category.  While Sequeira got the award for his book, `Sullsulle', M P Rodrigues got the award for his anthology of poems, `Rumbddi Fulam'.  These awards have a cash component of Rs 5000, a memento and a certificate.

“The Konkani-speaking people have particularly excelled in the fields of education, banking and politics.  Konkani is being spoken by people of all the religions, be it Hindus, Christians or Muslims. Since languages like Konkani are being spoken by linguistic minority communities, the state government has taken steps to safeguard their interests. Let the Konkani-speaking people come forward and suggest ways to further these efforts,” said Dr V S Acharya, who was the chief guest of the function.

K Narayana Kharvi, president, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, presided over the function. “Today's reality is that we even teach English language to the puppies at home.  When this is the case, how  can anyone expect his or her children to learn their mother tongue?  There are no shortcuts other than speaking our language, irrespective of where we are.  We must prove wrong the Unesco report, which has predicted that languages like Tulu, Konkani etc., will be extinct in another twenty five years,” Kharvi said, addressing the gathering. He pleaded with all the Konkani mothers to allow and encourage their children to study Konkani as an optional language in schools, where there is a provision to learn it from VI std to X std.

Local MLA, Raghupati Bhat, T Satish U Pai, editor, ‘Udayavani’ Kannada daily, Dinakar Shetty, president, Udupi municipality, and M V Kamath, veteran journalist, were present on the dais.   S H Shivarudrappa, registrar, Konkani Sahitya Academy, delivered the introductory address at the beginning.  Harish P Shenoy, a member of the Academy, welcomed the gathering.  While Pundalik Marathe was the master of ceremony, Vasudev Shanbhogue proposed vote of thanks.

Gopal Kharvi, who has set several records in swimming, and Felix A D'Souza from Mumbai, a short story writer, were felicitated with special prizes on the occasion.

Sangama Janapada Kalamela Udupi, Vijaya Kumar and group, Harry's Silver Jubilee Band and Vidyaranga  Mithra Mandali presented various cultural events.  Jayashree Kamat, Kasturi Kamat and Shashikala Pai presented a musical programme.