Kundapur: Regional Languages Play a Stellar Role in Unity and Integrity - Shantaram Naik

From Sanjay Borkar in Kundapur
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Feb 8: In addition to serving as the medium of communication, language has always made significant contributions to historical movements. Regional languages strengthen unity and integrity of the country, and therefore government authorities have to appreciate the demands and sentiments of the people speaking regional languages as their mother tongue, urged Shantaram Naik, Rajyasabha member, on Saturday, February 7, at  Kundapur in Karnataka.

Naik, president of All India Konkani Parishad, who was present at the inaugural function of the 19th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan being held here, called upon the government to consider the just demands of the people that serve towards further strengthening of the country's integrity.

Industrialist Dayanand Pai inaugurated the Sammelan in the absence of Jnanpith Award winner Ravindra Kelekar, who could not make it for the two day literary meet due to his ill health. Distinguished among those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP from Goa and outgoing president of the Konkani Parishad Shantaram L Naik, Karnataka MLC Srinivas Poojary,  Fr Alban D'Souza, Gokuldas Prabhu, U S Shenoy, at the Sammelan venue,  Chafra da Costa Nagar, Bhandarkars College Complex, Kundapur.

Karnataka chief minister(CM) B S Yedddyurappa could not be present at the progamme due to his busy schedule.

Speaking further, Naik said that the governments, while dealing with the issue of language, should always remember that, it is only the language which strengthens the integrity of the country.

Strength of Konkani language is seen from the very fact that all the political leaders, now-a-days, invariably use Konkani during their election campaigns. Political leaders know that they will not get votes if they do not speak in Konkani while canvassing for votes. This realization has compelled them to speak in their mother tongue, he added.

He pointed out that the  youths of today in Goa better appreciate the thoughts expressed through Konkani language than any other language. Naik went on to add that the innate  strength of Konkani was the force which played a key role in retaining Goa's separate identity, firstly as union territory and later as a full-fledged state.

Dayanand Pai praised all the people who tirelessly worked for the success of the Sammelan and said that such Sammelans should take place everywhere as it can create an awareness among the Konkani-speaking people and propel Konkani language.

Konkani poet Ramesh Bhagwant Veluskar, president of the 19th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan, urged Konkani writers to pen their works without keeping an eye on Sahitya Akademi or any other awards.

Creative works in the Konkani literary field, he said, should not be influenced by awards, as it is bound to affect the quality of the literary works. He disagreed with the people who write with an eye on winning awards rather than honestly bringing out their creative skills into the open through their works. The literature which is otherwise expected to spring from the inner depths, get diverted towards earning an award. This obviously adversely affects the quality of literature, he explained.

Veluskar underscored the need for the Konkani writers to diversify into subjects such as history, geography, astronomy, science and scores of other subjects. When such fertile writings take birth in  Konkani soil,   Konkani literature will scale unparalleled heights. The literature will in turn will result in giving a boost to the creation of still more powerful genres, he opined.

Working president of the Sahitya Parishad Gokuldas Prabhu and secretary Sadanand Kanekar and others spoke on the occasion. The inaugural function was followed by a variety entertainment programme.

Fr Alban D'Souza urged people to speak in Konkani as it is our mother tongue and ensure that the their children will carry forward the language by using it in their day-to-day dealings. He lamented the recent phenomenon of mixing English words when speaking in Konkani and wanted to put an end to the practice forthwith. He expressed the apprehension, that this degradation process, if continued, will in future, result in Kankani language becoming extinct.

"We say Konkani should prosper, but do we teach Konkani to our children, or do they go to English medium schools," he questioned.

Speaking on the occasion, MLC  Srinivas Poojari, explained, that the Karnataka CM could not make it to the Sammelan due to urgent political commitments. However, the CM has assured to look into the resolutions that would be taken in the session, he informed.

Reading out the speech of Jnanpith award winner Ravindra Kelekar, Pundalik Naik said that it is not only enough to bring out books in the language, but good quality books are the need of the hour. There is also a need to produce quality readers, he added.

Several books and music CDs were released on the occasion in  the hands of the dignitaries, that included "Saksham" (sugar candy) written by  Kashinath Naik (Volvoi), "Opta tem Pikta" by Philomena Samfransico and others.

This year's Sahitya Akademi award winner Ashok Kamat was honoured by  Shantaram Naik MP Rajya Sabha.

Earlier an impressive "Shoba Yatra"was taken out in the city which culminated at the venue of the Sammelan. A book exhibition and an exhibition of coins are on at the Sammelan venue.

A poets' meet for invited poets from different regions was held in the afternoon, which was presided by Melvyn Rodrigues. Philomena Samfrancisco, Titus Noronha, Dimple Fernandes, Ramesh Ghadi, Shoba Fulkar, John Aguiar, K G  Shanbag, Milan Vaingankar and Rosario Pinto participated.

Over a thousand people were present. Ramakant Kamat compered the programme and Sadanand Kanekar proposed vote of thanks.

On Sunday, February 8, 2009, there will be another Kavi Sammelan (poets' meet) to be  presided by Bharat Naik and to be attended by Prakash Padgaonkar, Nutan Sakhardande, Jess Fernandes, Dr Bhikaji Ghanekar, Guadalup Dias, Yusuf Shaikh, R S Bhaskar, Madhav Borkar, Sanjeev Verekar, Sunil Palkar and Nilba Khandekar. A session on 'work on Konkani literature' that has been scheduled, will be presided over by Mahabaleshwar Sail and attended by Uday Bhembre, Dr. Tanaji Halarnkar and Gokuldas Prabhu.