Mangalore: Konkani Kutam Award for Melvyn Rodrigues Presented
Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore - Pics Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Mangalore, Jul 28: The fifth annual "Konkani Kutam Bahrain Award" for 2006, won by Dubai-based poet and writer Melvyn Rodrigues, was presented at a function held in the Sandesha Kala Bhavan on Friday evening.
As Melvyn could not be present in person, his sister Sylvia Fernandes of Kulshekar, received the award from Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario.
Well-known singer and songwriter Wilfy Rebimbus and Sandesha director Fr Francis Lewis were guests of honour. Konkani Kutam Bahrain convener Richard Moras and executive member John Mascarenhas were present on the occasion.
KKB convener Richard Moras welcomed the gathering on behalf of the organizers and recalled Melvyn Rodrigues' contribution to the world of Konkani poetry in particular and literature in general. With the present awareness about Konkani literature and poety, both these facets of the society are going through a golden period, he said, adding that to this development Melvyn had a lot to contribute.
Stany Alvares read out the citation in honour of Melvyn, which was thereafter presented, along with a shawl, garland, a traditonal tray of honour and a memento, by Eric Ozario to Sylvia Fernandes, who represented her brother Melvyn.
Instead of the conventional VIP chair for presentation, a special pedestal resembling the ancient stone-built construction in Bahrain with a backdrop of a date palm tree was used. It meaninfully added a special touch and flavour of Bahrain, where the KKB is functioning from.
Melvyn's sentiments in the form of a reply, sent specially from Dubai, was read out by Vitori Karkal, one of the organizers. Wilfy Rebimbus honoured the members of the jury, Eric Ozario, Dr Edward Nazareth, past year's winner of the award Dolphy Lobo Cascia and Mandd Sobhann president Louis J Pinto.
Wilfy Rebimbus, as a guest of honour, spoke on the poetic legacy of Cha Fra D'Costa "the immortal" that was inherited by Melvyn and how with his staunch commitment he helped groom many a new poet. If at all Konkani poetry has received wide recognition these days, a large share of credit goes to Melvyn, he said. He also praised, besides Konkani Kutam Bahrain, the efforts of organizations like Mandd Sobhann, Konkani Natak Sabha, Sandesha and many others in promoting Konkani.
Sandesha director Fr Francis X Lewis, another guest of honour, stressed on the love for Konkani and gave a call to show one's love for the language not after its death but to strive to keep it alive in the first place.
Chief guest Eric Ozario commended the quality and content of Melvyn's poetry which was on its way of matching the excellence of Cha Fra poetry. Melvyn gave Konkani poetry a new dimension and a new altitude, which was difficult to equal in the modern times. He has made scientific study of poetry and research also to earn the epithet of an authority on the subject. Since a good number of Melvyn's poems have been set to music or published by Mandd Sobhann, the award was an honour to the organization also, he said. He also revealed that Konkani is being studied by 1723 students in 51 schools in the coastal districts and the language is marching towards glory, for which he sought everyone's support and collective pressure on the government from all Konkani organizations.
The programme was followed by an hour-long musical presentation 'Piega Piega' under the direction of Joel Pereira. Titus Noronha compered the programme and KKB executive member John Mascarenhas proposed a vote of thanks. Eveyone joined at a community dinner thereafter. At the beginning, the students of Sandesha Lalitkala Mahavidyalaya presented an invocation dance to the tune of a Konkani devotional number.
The function was attended by a large number of writers, authors, novelists, singers, composers, playwrights and Konkani-lovers.
A good number of Gulf-based Konkani artistes including Eddie Sequeira from Doha, Adrian Gomes from Kuwait, Baptist Martis from Bahrain and Kishoo Barkur from the UAE among others, attended the function.