Mangalore: Wilfy Rebimbus Memorial Sandesha Awards Instituted
News: Florine Roche
Pics by Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, May 9: In a fitting tribute befitting Konkan Kogul late Wilfy Rebimbus, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed today between Sandesha Cultural Foundation and Manglur Konkans, Dubai, to institute two Wilfy Rebimbus Memorial awards from the current year onwards. Manglur Konkans, Dubai, a leading Konkani Organisation, donated Rs. 10 lac (5 lac each) as corpus funds towards these awards in honour of late Wilfy Rebimbus. Sandesha Director Fr Valerian Mendonca and trustee P M Castelino signed the MOU on behalf of Sandesha and Valerian Peris and James Mendonca on behalf of Mangalore Konkans. The cheques to this effect were handed over to Fr Valerian Mendonca, Director of Sandesha, by Mangalore Konkans Chief Coordinator Valerian Peris in a function held at Sandesha, this morning.
The two memorial awards instituted are Wilfy Rebimbus Memorial Sandesha Konkani music annual award to recognize talented musicians in Konkani and Wilfy Rebimbus Memorial Sandesha annual Scholarship award for economically backward outstanding student of Sandesha College in the field of fine arts. The awards will be given from the interest accrued from the fund of 5 lakh each donated towards the awards. The MoU can be termed as an agreement to continue the rich Konkani legacy left behind by late Wilfy Rebimbus who passed away exactly two months back, on March 9, 2010.
In his presidential address Fr Dennis D’Sa equated the MoU to an engagement and said “it is a marriage between Sandesha and Mangalore Konkans, Dubai and the vital link to this marriage is Wilfy Rebimbus”. Fr Dennis said it was a matter of great honour for him to preside over the function as late Wilfy was honoured with the Life Time Achievement Award during his tenure as Director of Sandesha. He prophesized that Wilfy’s grandson Roger Gerald will continue the legacy left behind by Wilfy in carrying forward the torch of Konkani culture and music.
Citing the example of Terry Fox who had raised $ 24 million by running about 5000 kms with an artificial leg to raise funds for cancer, Fr Dennis said “Wilfy was running a race of Konkani culture and music and now he has handed over the baton to Sandesha and Mangalore Konkans. Now these two organizations have to run the race and they have made a good beginning in this respect”. He further added that Sandesha awards are known for their impartiality as the selection process is done by an independent jury. “Sandesha should try to maintain the same standard and by doing this you will be honoring Wilfy Rebimbus and the award will retain its credibility”, he stated.
Fr Dennis also suggested Mangalore Konkans to institute another fund in the name of Wilfy at Fr Muller Hospital in the near future to help poor cancer patients as Wilfy too had succumbed to cancer.
It was Manohar Pais, one of the members of Mangalore Konkans Organising Committee, who recalled the services of late Wilfy to Konkani music and culture in his tribute. He said “Wilfy has created a special position for himself in the hearts and minds of all Konkani loving people. At every stage of his life he was in the public domain as he was a celebrity and people loved to keep a tab on his life”. Manohar gave a glimpse of the versatile talent of late Wilfy as he sang some of the unforgettable songs written and sung by Wilfy and his team including the memorable songs like “Ago baye to kai vetai…..”, “ Sairik sodhun kazar …….” “Ek Ghanya thavn hanga raktha……” “Nathalache rathi….” “Maka navro mella ghatagar….” “geti lagi gelyar peto dhavo yetha ….”and many more songs immortalized by Wilfy which created nostalgia and giving feeling of the Wilfy Nite kind of atmosphere to the audience assembled.
Manohar Pais said Wilfy has set standards in Konkani music and somebody has to carry forward this inheritance he has bequeathed upon the Konkani people. By composing more than 3000 songs in Konkani Wilfy has really worked relentlessly dedication his valuable time and energy for Konkani language and music. “We are grateful to Wilfy for leaving behind a rich heritage. It is our good fortune that we were born when Wilfy was alive. The next generation is unfortunate to miss this opportunity”, he opined.
James Mendonca, another member of the organizing committee of Mangalore Konkans, gave a brief account of the activities of Mangalore Konkans in Dubai. “22 year old organization Mangalroe Konkans pointed out that Mangalroe Konkans has been providing promoting Konkani talent and culture by providing a platform to showcase the talents of Konkani speaking community in the gulf region by organizing competitions, Konkani fiesta and other activities”, Mendonca pointed out. He also said Mangalore Konkans Dubai has entered into an agreement with Sandesha to carry forward the cultural legacy left behind by Wilfy Rebimbus.
Vishwas Rebimbus, son of late Wilfy Rebimbus thanked the organizers for honouring Wilfy by instituting Wilfy Memorial Awards. He thanked Mangalore Konkans for providing a platform for Wilfy in the gulf by organizing Wilfy Nites including the holding of Sentimental Nite in 2007. The credit for successfully organizing Wilfy Nites in the gulf should go to Mangalore Konkanks, Dubai, Vishwas opined. He concluded his speech by narrating the lyrics of the song by Wilfy “Ami mog kelo sangeethacho ……” and stated that the rapport established through music should continue.
Linus Moras, Valerian Peris, Manohar Pais, James Mendonca, Roy Castelino, P M Castelino and Vishwas Rebimbus were also present in the dais.
The programme began with a welcome dance by students of Sandesha and a chorus song by students of the summer camp at Sandesha. Director of Sandesha Fr Valerian Mendonca welcomed the gathering. Trustee of Sandesha P M Castelino presented a vote of thanks. Leslie Rego compered the programme.