Pics: Karthik
Daijiworld Media Network—Kochi (RD/CN)
Kochi, Mar 17: The first commemorative conference on renowned Konkani poet P G Kamath was held at Gandhi Bhavan, Ernakulam, here recently.
Tirumala Devaswam officer P Rangadas Prabhu inaugurated the programme by garlanding the portrait of the late poet and lighting the lamp.
Dr Govind Shenoy, in his presidential address, said that if an individual chooses to be happy in life, he or she should first learn to help others. “P G Kamath lived by this virtue. To serve fellowmen is to serve God,” said Dr Shenoy.
Professor Turavoor Vishwambharan lauded the extraordinary services of the late Kamath in the sphere of education sphere while T N Vishwambharan emphasized on Kamath’s Hindi literary contributions.
Former MLA of Goa Assembly and advocate Uday Bhembre, in his chief guest’s address, said that one is born with rare qualities that have to be passed on to the next generation of Indians.
“The poetry of P G Kamath had vivid and sensitive aspects that can only be found in his poetry. God sends some one when the nation is in turmoil or to alleviate the catastrophe. It also happens in linguistic relations. P G Kamath had mastery over Hindi, Malayalam, Konkani, English, Pali, Sanskrit, and Apabhramsh languages. He compiled an anthology of devotional and folk songs and served as president of Kerala Konkani Academy for 16 years. ‘Ponvli’ and ‘Ollok’, were his poetry books published during his lifetime”, added Bhembre.
“The poetry Kamath addresses wide aspects of humanity and its introspection. It also points out men’s overtures on wives besides corruption, selfishness, and cheating,” he further added. Bhembre said that Kamath’s book ‘Ponvli’ exemplifies the human experience and intellect.
It was announced that the Goa government will set up Goa Cultural Centres in Mumbai, Mangalore, and Kochi.
Dr Swarnalata Shenoy welcomed the gathering while Anand G Kamath proposed the vote of thanks.
Professor N N Anandan chaired the multi-lingual poetry session held on Sunday afternoon.
Malayalam poet Professor Chemmanam Chacko, Hindi poet Professor P V Vijayan, Tulu poet Professor Krishnamurthy, Kannada poet Mahesh Nayak, Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues, Sharatchandra Shenoy, N Shivanand Shenoy, K Anant Bhat, and R Bhaskaran participated in the multi-lingual poet’s session.
Nivedita proposed the vote of thanks while Ramesh Pai compered the programme organized by P G Kamath Foundation.