Media Release
Mangalore, Oct 23: ‘Raknno’ Konkani Weekly, founded in the year 1938, will organize two Konkani writers’ conventions at Kallianpur, Udupi on October 27 and in Mangalore on November 3 to commemorate its platinum jubilee year.
The conventions will include informatory and open discussion sessions on the role and responsibility of editors, feature articles, being a good reader and letters to the editor transcending the barriers of language. Editors and writers from Udupi and South Kanara as well as neighbouring districts will participate in the twin conventions. The exhibition of books and magazines will be held during both the conventions.
The first Konkani writers’ convention will be held at the Silver Jubilee Hall of Milagres College, Kallianpur on Sunday October 27 from 9.30 am to 1 pm. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of Udupi diocese will inaugurate the convention and Fr Stany B Lobo, the rector of Kallianpur-Milagres Cathedral will be the guest of honour. Well-known Konkani writers and linguists Chethan Capuchin, Fr Valerian Fernandes, Wilfred Lobo Padil and J F D’Souza Attavar will be the resource persons for the convention. Well-known writer Dr Gerald Pinto (Gerry Niddodi) is the local organizer through Konkani Sangatan of Udupi district. The diocese of Udupi is assisting the organization of the convention.
The second Konkani writers’ convention will be held at the Bishop’s House Hall in Kodialbail, Mangalore on Sunday November 3 from 9.30 am to 1 pm. Msgr Denis Prabhu, the vicar general of Mangalore diocese will inaugurate the Convention. Well-known Konkani writers and linguists Melwyn Pinto Neerude, Dolphy Cascia, Eddie Netto and J F D’Souza Attavar will be resource persons for the convention. Well-known writer Major Kuppepadavu is the local organizer.
The Platinum Jubilee year of Raknno (1938-2013) was launched in December 2012 and will have a jubilant valedictory on December 15 this year. During the jubilee year Raknno has organized literary meetings, media awareness programmes, publication of books, study of journalistic history of Raknno, exhibition of books and magazines, readers surveys, novel writing and other literary competitions, etc. On the occasion of valedictory it will institute the Raknno Literary Lifetime Award to a senior Konkani writer with felicitation together with cash award of Rs 50,000.
‘Raknno’ though being a Konkani Weekly by nature has strived to keep its readers abreast with the times with wide coverage on agricultural, scientific, medical, legal, economical, political, religious, cultural, educational, social and career guidance issues; constant innovations and creativity have been Raknno’s forte; humour, satire, serialized novels, feature articles with field work, short stories and special pages for children, youth and women have been promoting literature and the habit of reading. As a publishing house, Raknno has been publishing both fiction and non - fiction books (titles) having 111 titles and one CD to its credit till date. ‘Kajulo’ published by Raknno is the only Konkani magazine meant exclusively for the children.