Mangalore: Kittall Yuva Puroskar conferred on Wilma Bantwal

Mangalore: Kittall Yuva Puroskar conferred on Wilma Bantwal

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Mar 2: Young writer Wilma Batwal was conferred the Leo Rodrigues - ‘Kittall Yuva Puroskar-2012’ during a programme organized by Kittall.com to mark its third anniversary at Valencia Church hall here on Saturday March 2.

The Award was presented by Rohan Monteiro, managing director of Property Infratech Ltd, who was the chief guest for the programme. Titus Noronha was the guest of honour.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the programme, Rohan Monteiro said, "I cannot contribute anything to Konkani language in terms of literature, but I can support them, which I am doing."

He further added, "We have been hearing that our country is in the hands of our youth. But the sad part is these days youth are getting into wrong direction as they are not guided properly. Cases like drugs and other incidents taking place in our city are an indication of this.

"It is important that elders encourage the youngsters in the right direction, and make them contribute something to our language. Only through this can Konkani grow," he said, lauding H M Pernal for promoting Konkani literature through his website Kittal.com.

On the occasion, Rohan Monteiro conferred Leo Rodrigues - ‘Kittall Yuva Puroskar’ to Wilma Bantwal for her contribution to Konkani literature. The award comprised a memento, a citation and Rs 10,000 cash prize. The award selection committee consisted of three members namely Titus Noronha, Melvyn Rodrigues and Guru Baliga.

Acknowledging the honour, Wilma Bantwal thanked the organizers and lauded Kittall.com for stepping into the third year. "As I was influenced by the language and received good support and guidance from people, I started contributing to Konkani literature through my writing," she said, assuring that she would keep on doing so.

"There is a need to preserve our culture and to do so we have to preserve and promote our language first," said Wilma urging elders to teach Konkani to their children.

Kittall.com also granted Editor’s Choice awards to three writers namely Sequeira Suratkal, Wilson Kateel and Dr Denis Castelino.

H M Pernal, editor of Kittall.com announced on the occasion that from this year onwards Kittal Yuva Puroskar will be named as 'Leo Rodrigues Family Kittal Yuva Puroskar', as NRI entrepreneur, philanthropist and Konkani lover Leo Rodrigues has come forward to form a reserve fund to bear the award money and part of award presentation ceremony expenses.

Leslie Rego read out Leo's message on this occasion.

As part of the programme, an annual lecture was organized which was delivered by Titus Noronha on the topic ‘Culture and Youth’.

Commenting on the topic, he defined culture as a ‘collective behaviour of people during a definite period’ and also explained how culture changes with time.

"Greatest contribution for culture comes from the village level. Culture is born in village and it dies in city. To kill a culture, we should kill language first and that is what is taking place in the present generation, as children do not speak Konkani and are influenced by English," said Titus.

"These days in the name of culture moral policing is taking place, wherein youth take law into their hands," he observed.

"Migration is another problem through which culture dies. People adopt the culture of the new land very soon, leaving aside their native culture," he said.

H M Pernal, editor of Kittall.com welcomed the gathering while Leslie Rego compered the programme.

Basti Vaman Shenoy, Fr Steven Pereira, Fr Denis Castelino, Fr Ronald D’Souza, Fr Bonaventure Nazareth among others were present.

Watch Video