Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 7: Konkani literature has taken a significant step into the digital age with the release of Rony Arun's short story collection Biddar (Residence) as a reflowable ebook. The title marks the 12th addition to the Konkani Reflowable Ebooks Project, an initiative aimed at preserving and enhancing global access to the language.

The project, launched three years ago, is the initiative of Keron Madtha, a software engineer by profession. It features Konkani titles in Kannada script across various genres, including essays, short stories, novels, children’s stories, memoirs, and biographies. The effort significantly contributes to the promotion and contemporary use of the language through digital technology.

The digital edition of Biddar, which features 20 Konkani short stories, was developed for Mandd Sobhann as part of its e-Library initiative. The initial technical conversion was handled by Techharmonix Consulting Pvt Ltd and edited by Keron Madtha.

First published in paperback in 2013 by Srujana Prakashana’s Victor Mathias (Vitori, Karkal), Biddar was Rony Arun’s debut work. The author has since established his literary presence with Tho'kanatl'lo Zuzari (biography of the late Eric Ozario) and Rickshaw Diary, a collection of memoirs detailing his experiences as a rickshaw driver in Mangaluru. Both books have also been published as part of this ebook series.

A commitment to digital accessibility

The decision to adopt the reflowable ebook format is a strategic move to ensure a superior reading experience. Unlike traditional fixed-layout PDFs and scanned documents, which require horizontal scrolling and zooming on small devices, a reflowable ebook automatically adjusts text, font size, and layout to fit any screen. This dynamic formatting allows readers to customize font face, margins, and color themes, ensuring comfort and accessibility across smartphones, tablets, and e-readers.

The complete Konkani Reflowable Ebooks Project is available on the Google Play Store, where titles can be accessed via the Google Play Books app. This platform offers readers the convenience of synced reading progress and personalized viewing preferences across all their devices.

Biddar by Rony Arun is available on Google Play Books at:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=MGyMEQAAQBAJ

Explore the entire Konkani Reflowable Ebooks Project series on Google Play Books.