Media Release
Mangalore, Dec 12: Konkani Writers Forum® Karnataka in association with Konkani Institute, St Aloysius College, here, will organized a unique program to commemorate 100 years of Konkani journalism on Sunday December 16 in the AV Room (Audio Visual Room) of St Aloysius (Autonomous) College, here.
In the year 1912, the first ever Konkani periodical ‘Dirvem’, was started by great Konkani poet Late Louis Mascarenhas. After Dirvem though many periodicals and magazines were started in Konkani, only a few survived.
75-year-old Raknno, a weekly published by the diocese of Mangalore, is the oldest periodical in Konkani still and is going strong. Though there are a few publications in Konkani print media from Mangalore and Mumbai, their importance, presence and impact is not felt very strongly in Konkani.
With a view of deliberating on this situation, the symposium focuses on the core issues of – a writer, an editor and a reader – relationships/equations as to what exactly a reader expects from a paper / periodical, based on the editorial policy of a particular periodical what strategy the editor adopts, and what does a writer write, does he/she write as per readers'/editors' expectations, or simply adheres to his original thinking, which is to his contentment and satisfaction. ?
Edwin J F D’Souza, a reputed Konkani littérateur, a member of the general council of the premier body of Letters of India, the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and the executive director of Konkani Institute, St Aloysius College, Mangalore will present his paper from a writer’s perspective and Fr Francis Rodrigues, editor of oldest Konkani periodical, Raknno, whose publication from 75 years, is the flagship of Konkani literature/journalism, will present his view from editors’/ publishers’ point of view.
H M Pernal, critic and editor- in- chief of Kittall, a Konkani literary online magazine (www. kittall .com) will moderate the sessions.
Senior writer Edwin C Netto, Sikeram Surathkal, All India Radio Program executive Florin Roche, academician professor Stephen Quadros and young and promising writer Manu Shaktinagar will present readers’ points of view.
Judith Mascarenhas, daughter of founder of first ever Konkani Periodical ‘Dirvem’ will inaugurate the symposium.
Entry to this symposium is open to all on registration. There is no registration fee whatsoever, but interested participants are requested to register their entry sending SMS or calling on 9449770629/9845083148, so that proper and adequate arrangements could be made to have a complimentary breakfast and lunch served to all participants.
During this symposium Konkani Writers Forum will honour its members who have published books in the recently.
An exhibition and sale of new books also arranged on this occasion at the venue.