By Rons Bantwal 
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD)

Mumbai, Feb 21: The 28th edition of All India Konkani Parishad was held at Veer Savarkar Sabha Garh, Shivaji Park, Dadar (West), from Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19.

Retired IAS officer Arvind Bhatikar presided over the programme on Friday morning.

Metro-based Anuvada Suvidha Kendra publisher Ramdas Bhatkal was the chief guest who inaugurated the programme.

Akhila Bharat Konkani Parishat president Dr H Shantaram, executive president Gokuldas Prabhu, honorary secretary H R Bhaskar, general secretary Niroopa Keni, reception committee president Dr Premanand Ramani, executive committee president Dr Chandrashekar Shenoy, convener Sanjay Hegde, Mohan Sanchagiri, and publicity committee president Kamalaksha Saraf were present on the occasion.

Sahitya Akademi awardee Melvyn Rodrigues was felicitated and Konkani books by Philomena Sam Francisco and Shivananda Shenoy were released during the occasion.

Renowned poet Melvyn Rodrigues presided over the poets’ session on Sunday which was attended by J B Moraes, Prakash Padgaonkkar, Madhav Borkar, Ashok Bhonslo, Bharat Naik, Nutan Sakhardande, Maya Kharangate, R S Bhaskar, P N Shivanand Shenoy, Neelba Khandekar, Guadupe Dias, Sunil Palkar, Jess Fernandes, Prakash Naik, Sadhana Kamat and Philomena San Francisco.  Aruna Rao Kundaje presided yet another poetry session on Saturday.

Various cultural shows were held as part of the entertainment programme. There were four seminars on various subjects pertaining to Konkani language and community wherein many scholars presented their papers. Arvind Bhatikar presided over the valedictory programme held on Sunday evening.

Former union minister Suresh Prabhu was the chief guest for the concluding ceremony.  He  felicitated many persons from Mumbai who have contributed to the literary field during the occasion.