Mangalore: Madhava Pai's Kannada - Konkani Dictionary Released

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jun 13: Kannada writer Padma M Shenoy realeased The Kannada - Konkani dictionary written by renowned Kannada, Sanskrit and Konkani linguist M Madhava Pai at a glittering
function held at Vishwa Konkani Centre, Mangalore on Sunday June 12.

President of Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Sahithya Parishad Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, who was the chief guest on the occasion, felicitated M Madhava Pai, who has compiled this dictionary. Noted Kannada writer Chandrakala Nandavara presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradeep Kalkura said that it was a great honour for him to felicitate a great
scholar and linguist like M Madhava Pai whose painstaking efforts had resulted in bringing out the
Kannada-Konkani dictionary. “I consider it my privilege to honour a senior and academic person like
M Madhava Pai, who at the age of 84 has compiled the dictionary with great enthusiasm and zeal”, he
added. Kalkura also stressed that we should be proud of our land and language.

Padma Shenoy who released the dictionary also commended the efforts of the writer M Madhava Pai
and said the writer’s ability to concentrate on the task on hand and the conducive family atmosphere
were instrumental in completing the work of brining out a comprehensive Kannada-Konkani dictionary.
She also pointed out that the book clearly shows that the author has enjoyed his work thoroughly.
Padma Shenoy also said that the Kannada Konkani dictionary written both in Kannada and Devanagiri
script has been possible due to the inspiration and support received by the writer from Konkani Sardar
Basti Vaman Shenoy.

In her presidential address, Chandrakala Nandavara also said that it is her good fortune and a
honour to preside over the release of the dictionary written by her colleague who is much senior to
her. She suggested that it would have been better if Roman script was also used along with Kannada
and Devanagiri script, as it would have been helpful to a wider section of readers. Stressing on the
importance of language she likened it to a flowing river saying “the river may flow in its own pace
overcoming all odds but its final destination is to join the sea. Similarly, language should not be a
barrier in providing information to the people”.

Earlier, Gurudatt Bantwalkar invited the guests to the dais. Basti Vaman Shenoy, president of Konkani
Language and Sanskriti Prathishthan, welcomed the gathering. Dr Kasturi Mohan Pai introduced Padma Shenoy to the assembled gathering.

Writer of the book Madhava Pai thanked Konkani Language and Sanskriti Prathishtan and the sponsors for giving him all the help to write the book. The book was sponsored by Ramdas Kamath U, Bangalore.

Basti Vaman Shenoy presented the guests with mementos. Venkatesh N Baliga delivered the vote of
thanks. M R Kamath compered the programme.