Mangalore: All India Konkani Writers' Organization launched
Media Release
Mangalore, Jan 21: Okhil Bharot Konknni Lekhok Songhotton (All India Konkani Writers’ Organisation - AIKWO), promoted by Jagotik Konknni Songhotton, was formed on Sunday January 19 at Kalaangann here.
As many as 57 Konkani writers from Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala who had assembled, became members of the All India Konkani Writers’ Organisation. After passing the constitution, the executive committee was elected.
The members elected to the executive committee are:
Vincy Quadros, Goa
Jose Salvadore Fernandes, Goa
Alvaro Gomes, Goa
Selza Lopes, Goa
Guadalupe Dias, Goa
Dr Edward Nazareth, Mangalore
Irine Rebello, Mangalore
Richard Moras, Mangalore
Prof Stephen Quadros, Honnavar
Valerian D’Souza (Vally Vagga), Mysore
Ancy D’Souza Paladka, Mumbai
K Vishwanathan, Kerala
K K Madhavan, Kerala
The organisation was officially launched by displaying the name of the organisation, written in all the 5 scripts of Konkani – Kannada, Roman, Devanagari, Malayalam and Perso-Arabic. This All India Organisation of Konkani writers is formed on the principles of ‘Respect for every script’ and ‘Unity in diversity’.
Guinness World Record holder, Gopal Kharvi, a Konkani, was felicitated on the occasion, with a shawl, garland, fruits, citation certificate and Rs 50,500 cash, contributed by members of JKS.
The newly elected executive committee met to co-opt members to the executive committee, elect the office-bearers and chalk out the plan of action.
The following were co-opted:
Eric Ozario, Mangalore (representing JKS, the promoters)
Victor Mathias, Mangalore
Marcus Gonsalves, Goa
Walter Menezes, Goa
The office-bearers are:
President – Vincy Quadros, Goa
Vice-president (Karnataka) – Valerian D’Souza (Vally Vagga), Mysore
Vice-president (Goa) – Jose Salvadore Fernandes, Goa
Vice-president (Maharashtra) – Ancy D’Souza Paladka, Mumbai
Vice-president (Kerala) – K Vishwanathan, Kerala
General secretary – Dr Edward Nazareth, Mangalore
Associate secretary – Guadalupe Dias, Goa
Treasurer – Richard Moras, Mangalore
PRO – Prof Stephen Quadros, Honnavar
The executive committee chalked out the following plan of action:
- To organise 4 Konkani literary conferences – one each in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
- To institute 2 Awards of Rs 1 lac each for literature in Roman and Kannada scripts. These Awards will be presented at the Goa Sahithya Sommellan, by the end of this year.
- To give 2 grants of Rs 25,000 each, for the printing of one book each, in Malayalam and Perso-Arabic scripts.
- To publish a book containing poems, written in all the 5 scripts, by the poets of that script and dialect.