Mangalore: Konkani Prachar Sanchalan launches campaign to promote language

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 15: With the aim of giving importance to Konkani language in schools and colleges, the Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in collaboration with Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has started a Konkani awareness campaign to promote the language and take it to the next generation.

The campaign was launched by Kasargod Chinna, president of Konkani Sahitya Academy along with theatre artiste Kalagangotri Kitti and other dignitaries by handing over the flag at the Academy office in Lalbagh here on Friday February 15.

As part of the campaign, ‘Kalakul Repetory’ of Mandd Sobhann presented a street play called ‘Konkani Amcho Fudar’ ('Konkani is our future'). The campaign will be held at 40 places in twin districts from February 15 to March 17 where the street play will be performed.

The street play conveys a message on how regional language dies if measures are not taken to promote it among the young generation. It stresses on the dire need of preserving the language. The play has been written by Arun Raj Rodrigues and directed by Christopher D’Souza Neenasam.

The campaign is an effort put forth by the Konkani Prachar Sanchalan so that many more students take up Konkani language in their academic studies, which in turn would help in preserving the language for posterity.

The icing on the cake was when a member of the audience, A J D’Souza, wept after watching the play and said that he would speak Konkani in his day-to-day life and would also help in promoting the language.

Roy Castelino, president of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in his welcome address said around 60 students appeared for the Konkani SSLC exam last year and 72 students are preparing for the same this year. "The Sanchalan’s intention is to make at least 500 students write Konkani SSLC exam by 2018," he said.

"We are trying to promote the language among the young generation through this street play," said Kasargod Chinna, "This is good move by the Konkani Prachar Sachalan to promote the language.

"Let the campaign be state-wide with many programmes to promote the language," said Chinna, assuring his support on behalf of the Academy. Chinna also thanked Konkani teachers for their dedication and commitment to this task.

Vitori Karkal compered while Anil D’Cunha, secretary of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan delivered the vote of thanks.

Eric Ozario, Mandd Sobhann Gurkar, Stany Alvares, president of Mandd Sobhann, Louis J Pinto, Fr Francis Rodrigues, Devdas Pai, registrar of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, Konkani teachers of various colleges among others were present.

The street play will be held at St Lourdes Central School at 1 pm, St Agnes College at 2 pm and St Aloysius College at 3.30 on Friday February 15.

Bishop’s message on the initiative

The initiative of promoting the language was also supported by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore diocese. "Konkani is our mother tongue, it is our duty to preserve and take the language to the next generation and this can be possible only if we write and read it," said the Bishop.

"The Karnataka government has given us the permission to teach Konkani as the third optional language in schools from class 6 to class 10. Hence, this opportunity should be utilized by the children and parents should take keen interest in supporting them," he said.

He also wished good luck for the praiseworthy initiative taken up by Konkani Prachar Sanchalan.