Mangalore: Accolades Shower on Melvyn Rodrigues at Felicitation Ceremony
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Mar 3: Over 20 Konkani organizations and scores of well-wishers joined in unison on Saturday March 3 at Milagres Jubilee Hall here to honour eminent poet Melvyn Rodrigues, winner of the prestigious Central Sahitya Akademi award.
The felicitation, organized by over 20 Konkani associations, was led by Daiji Dubai, the forum for Konkani writers in the UAE.
Basti Vaman Shenoy, chief of Vishwa Konkani Kendra, welcomed the gathering and said that the associations had decided to honour Melvyn Rodrigues with a grand function as he is from 'our own Mangalore'.
"Melvyn is not only a poet but also an inspiration to budding poets. He has shaped and nurtured many a poet, which is indeed commendable," he said.
Fr Walter D'Mello, parish priest of Milagres Church, hailed Melvyn's contribution to Konkani literature for almost 30 years and echoed Vaman Shenoy in the view that he is not just a poet but much more.
"He has a unique style, and is a treasury of knowlegde on Konkani literature and vocabulary. He has written books, poetry, translations and critical works on Konkani, which is beyond compare," he said.
"He is not just a poet for himself, but for others. He encourages other poets by conducting programmes like kavita fests which provide a fitting platform for budding poets," Fr D'Mello added.
"Due to infuence of western culture, our own culture and language is getting eroded. But people like Melvyn have kept it alive with their priceless and timely contributions,"
Dr Madhavi Sardesai, professor of Konkani, Goa University, quoted lines from Rabindranath Tagore's works and said that Melvyn's poetry has great depth. "After Cha Fra, it is Melvyn Rodrigues who has attained the level of greatness in Konkani literature," she said.
"Let the Sahitya Akademi Award be just a beginning, and lead to greater heights like winning the Jnapith and the Nobel Prize," she wished.
Pundalik Naik of Goa, a Konkani poet, writer and himself a winner of Central Sahitya Akademi Award, was the chief guest. In his address he said that poets 'fight with the world and fight with the words'.
"There are so many awards meant for poets, but every poet dreams of winning the Sahitya Akademi award. It has been now conferred on Melvyn Rodrigues, which indeed is a reflection of his commendable achievement,"
He said he was happy to come all the way from Goa to attend the programme and said that out of the seven people from Goa who had accompanied him for the programme, some were winners of Sahitya Akademi Award and each of them had been honoured in their hometowns.
"But this particular programme outshine all of them...it has created a record in terms of the number of associations coming together to honour the poet, and the response from the people," he said.
"After Cha Fra, it is Melvyn Rodrigues who is carrying the tradition of Konkani literature forward, and passing it on to younger generation by shaping them into poets," he added.
A portrait of Melvyn Rodrigues was handed over to Pundalik Naik on the occasion.
Mandd Sobhan Gurkar Eric Ozario read out the 'abhinandan patr' and said that Melvyn is an accomplished poet, who has achieved success through sheer hard work, intelligence, and discipline. He also recalled the days when he along with Melvyn and Cha Fra had sown the seeds of Mandd Sobhann.
"Fame and honour does not come to everybody. Many people work hard in their own respective fields, but only a few are destined for greatness," he added.
Representatives of all the associations honoured Melvyn Rodrigues with a big garland and the guests felicitated him. H M Pernal, editor of Kittall.com read out the citation. Melvyn's wife Averyl Rodrigues, who was also on the dais, too was presented with a bouquet.
Acknowledging the honour, Melvyn said that he was truly touched by the gesture and grateful to all those who had wished and recognized him. "This was unexpected. My cutouts were everywhere, and I was hesistant to pass by those ways. I am like you all, and I feel extemely overwhelmed," he said.
"A poet reciprocates to the situation, to persons and the environment in and around us. We play with words and understand feelings. A poet gives expression to the points of view shared by people. In this materialistic world, our five senses are getting rusted. Therefore, an attempt is made through programmes like Kavita fest to foster and nurture sensitivity in budding poets," he added.
He further added that he was happy that the Sahitya Akademi had recognized his work, and said that he was indebted to the organizers, associations and the well-wishers who had come forward to honour him.
"You have given me everything. I do not know how to give back for this great honour you have bestowed on me," he said.
The glittering ceremony flowed rich with poetry penned by Melvyn, presented in various forms including songs and a skit, prior to the formal felicitation. Titus Noronha compered.
Eric Ozario with his team of talented singers like Zeena Pereira, Carol Monteiro, Robin Sequeira and Prakash, together with the orchestra, provided a luxuriant musical rendering of Melvyn's poems.
'Compere beyond compare' Leslie Rego and his team enacted extracts from Melvyn's Sahitya Akademi Award winning collection 'Prakrithicho Paas'. The poignant performance not only won the hearts of the audience, but also gave a glimpse of the poet's powerful expressions.
Hemacharya proposed the vote of thanks. Leslie Rego compered the felicitation ceremony.
The felicitation ceremony was followed by a poetry session chaired by Pundalik Naik.
Poets like Arun Sakhardande, Maurice Shantipura, Shakunthala Kini, Paresh Kamath, Nutan Sakhardande, Jess Fernandes, Wilson Kateel, Shivanand Shenoy and Prakash Padgaonkar took part.
Stany Nirude, Daiji Dubai convenor and others were present.
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