Daijiworld News Network - Mumbai (MB)
Mumbai, Sep 21: This year's prestigious 'Divo Sahitya Puraskar 2006,' cash award of Rs 50,000 goes to two eminent Konkani figures Fr V J Menezes OFM Cap from Bangalore and Wilfred Fernandes from Mumbai. The award this year has been shared equally by them with either getting Rs 25,000, a citation and a memento.
Fr V J Menezes and Wlfred Fernandes, joint winners of Divo Puraskar 2006
Fr V J Menezes OFM Cap, has been a senior Konkani writer for over 38 years. Wilfred Fernandes has been a Konkani stage singer for over 40 years. They have been selected from the several entries recieved earlier, by a designated selection panel comprising Francis Fernandes Cascia (dramatist), Vally Vagga (Konkani writer), Raymond Lobo (Konkani writer), V P Lobo (resource person) and Austin D'Souza (Konkani activist).
The panel of jury - Francis Fernandes Cascia, Vally Vagga, Raymond Lobo, V P Lobo Chennai and Austin D'Souza
Selection of candidates for the award is made in recognition of the individuals' contribution towards Konkani.
Fr V J Menezes OFM Cap (66) served Konkani with his writings and as an activist. He has written for several Konkani periodicals including "Divo". He has also composed hymns in English and Konkani and produced cassettes/CD. Wilfred Fernandes (64) has reserved a portion of advertisement amount in the 'Divo Mt Mary special issue' published during the second week of September 2006.
The award will be presented to the winners at a grand function which will be held at a specially decorated 'Francis Fernandes Cascia Mattov' some time in November/December 2006. The award ceremony will also include Konkani cultural presentations.
Earlier award winners have been Ronald Pereira, Molly Lobo, P D'Souza, Eddie Netto, Fr Norbert Fernandes, the late Amiyar Bombay, Fr Pratap Naik SJ and Valley Quadros Ajekar, Cyprian Albuquerque and Concepta Alva.
Divo, a popular illustrated Konkani Weekly having the largest readership has been published from Mumbai since twelve years in Kannada script and is widely read in Karnataka, Mumbai and in Gulf countries as well. The award is being given successively for the sixth year. Divo is a sister publication of The Secular Citizen.