Media Release

Panaji, Mar 15: Dalgado Konkani Akademi has announced its annual awards to personalities who have contributed to the development of Konkani in Roman script. The awards will be presented in a special function to be held on Thursday March 15 at 4.30 pm in Ravindra Bhavan’s Conference Hall, Margao.

Luizinho Faleiro, Congress Working Committee member and Congress’ general secretary of North-Eastern district will be the chief guest; while Fr Kyriel D’Souza, Provincial of Goa Province, Society of Pilar and former editor of Vavraddeancho Ixtt weekly will be the guest of honour.

Fr Pratap Naik, who has several literary books to his credit, including one's on linguistic research, will be honoured with Dalgado Literary Award 2011 for his life time contribution to Konkani literature in Roman script. Currently a joint director (academic and research) of Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendra (TSKK), he also worked as a director of TSKK for 11 years. 'Jivitantlim Ghodditam', 'Kazule', 'Chirputtam', 'Murmure' are some of his poetry books.  He has edited, translated a number of Konkani books. He has also served as editor of 'Sod', research magazine by TSKK.  

Proficient in Konkani language, he has come out with a number of linguistic publications, among which 'Devonagori lipient Konknni borounche nem’, 'Konknni Borounchi Promann Rit (Kon’nodd Lipient)', 'Konknni Borounchi Promann Rit' (Devonagori Lipient), 'Kon’nodd Lipient Konknni Borounchi Promann Rit', 'Romi Lipient Konknni Borounchi Promann Rit', TSKK Linguistic Glossary English-Konknni and Konknni-English, 'TSKK Romi Lipi' (TSKK Orthography:Konkani in Roman script), 'Devnagori lipientlean Oxford Picture Dictionary: English-Konkani' have contributed immensely to Konkani.    

Annie Quadros, who is popularly known as ‘Pearl of Konkani Stage’ and active on the tiatr stage for last 37 years, will be conferred with Dalgado Cultural Award 2011 for her life time contribution to Konkani culture. She has acted with almost all the top writer-directors of Konkani stage. Besides, she has also acted in Konkani movies 'Kanteantlem Ful', 'Padri', 'Roddo Naka', 'Chintanam nhoi Sopnam' to name a few.

Both these awards carry a shawl, a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each.

Fr Casmiro D’Mello will be honoured with Dalgado Heritage Award 2011. While serving for the archdiocese of Bombay for several decades, with an immense love for Konkani, he has tirelessly worked to spread this love among the Konkani populace of Bombay.  Between 1961 and 1971, he officiated as the editor of "Udentichem Nokhetr." He was also instrumental in increasing the readership of the weekly. He has published several valuable Konkani books. Some which merit mention are Konkani guru Prof Joaquim Antonio Fernandes' 'Konknni Nadxastr' and "Gõychem Xetkamot" as well as Edward Guido Souza's "Vachop Rikamea Vellar."

Dalgado Konkani Institution Award 2011 for Konkani institutions furthering the cause of Konkani in Roman script will be awarded to Kala Mogi, Candolim, which is in existence since late 1960’s, and working in the different fields of Konkani, specially in tiatr field to bring innovations. Both these awards carry a shawl, a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 20,000 each.

Dalgado Konkani Akademi’s Fr Freddy J da Costa Journalism Award 2011 for journalism in Konkani in Roman script will be presented to Alvaro Gomes, who is a regular contributor to practically all the periodicals in Konkani in Roman script.

Dalgado Youth Award 2011 for youth contribution to Konkani in Roman script will be conferred on Marcos Gonsalves who writes essays, stories, one-act plays and poems in inimitable style. He has eight books to his credit. 'Thembea-Thembeant' (Poems), Bhakita and Frank Duff-Mixonar (biographies) Konnsam (Stories) and  'Tornni Xim' (essays) are some of his books. Besides, he writes for number of Konkani periodicals including 'Dor Mhoineachi Rotti', 'Vavraddeancho Ixtt', 'Gulab', The Goan Review, 'Jivit', 'Gõycho Avaz', 'Gõykar, Bimb’, 'Sunaporant', Konkani. Both these awards carry a shawl, a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each.