Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 29: A new governing body has been formed for Mandd Sobhann, the world's premier Konkani cultural organization, which is set to enter its 40th year this November. The committee members, elected at the recent Annual General Meeting, subsequently selected the office bearers for the year 2025-26.
Cultural leader, organizer of numerous large-scale events, and renowned Mangaluru-based businessman Louis J Pinto will continue as president. Poet Ronald Crasta will serve as secretary, and singer Sunil Monteiro will be treasurer. The names of the other office bearers are as follows: coordinator: Stany Alvares; vice president: Naveen Lobo; joint secretary: Kishore Fernandes; public relations officer: Victor Mathias; drama: Arun Raj Rodrigues; Nach Sobhann: Rahul Pinto; Sumell: Raina Sequeira. Members: Keron Madtha, Alron Rodrigues, Irene Rebello, Rony Arun, Ajay D'Souza, Kingsley Nazareth, Lawrence D'Souza, and Subhash Gowda.
The following individuals will serve as regional representatives: Honnavar: Steven Rodrigues; Uttara Kannada: Jeevan Siddi; Goa: Fr Milton Rodrigues, Saish Panandikar; Mumbai: Leo Fernandes; Dubai: Dayan D'Souza; Qatar: Sunil D'Silva; Australia: Wilson D'Souza; London: Sunil D'Cunha; USA: Harriet Vidyasagar. Roy Castelino (Kalaangann Pirjent) and Ronald Mendonca (Chairman, Kalaangann Administrative Board) will be ex-officio members.
The Mandd Sobhann committee will work towards fulfilling Gurkar Eric Ozario's dream of taking Konkani pride to the pinnacle of the world. In the coming years, there are plans to digitize Konkani books into eBooks to expand the eLibrary by creating "eBongsall" to gather all Konkani literature under one portal, and launch KonkaniShow.com to promote and encourage performing arts. The organization will also continue to organize events like a children's literary festival, monthly theatres, Sumell, Nach Sobhann, Mandd Theatre, Sur Sobhann, summer camps, and many other programs.
To honor the legacy of Eric Ozario, preparations are underway to unite Konkani people from every corner of the world to celebrate Konkani's unity in diversity and set a Guinness World Record of 12 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes.