Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 19: Eminent Konkani poet and Sahithya Academy Awardee Melvyn Rodrigues has done all Konkani speaking people of Karnataka proud. He is one among the 46 poets selected to participate in the National Symposium of Poets (Sarva Basha Kavi Sammelan) to be held in Ahmedabad in the presence of invited audience on Janaury 8, 2015 organized by All India Radio.
Two poets are selected from each language except Hindi which is represented by four poets in this and Melvyn will represent Konkani language in this symposium. Arun Sakhardande from Goa is the other poet to represent Konkani language at this symposium. Usually the honour of representing Konkani at this symposium goes to poets from Goa. It is for the first time this honour is bestowed on a Konkani poet from Karnataka region and that is why his selection comes as a good news for Konkani speaking community of the state.
The names of these 46 poets have been selected by a high level of committee constituted by Director General, All India Radio, New Delhi. It is a prestigious event which gives an opportunity and exposure for poets from all over the country to congregate and share their creative thoughts. A two hour recording of this programme presented before the invited audience will be broadcast on the national network of All India Radio on January 25, 2015 on the eve of Republic Day at 10 pm. To reach out to wider sections of the society the Regional language versions of the same will be broadcast from concerned regional AIR stations.
When All India Radio Mangalore informed him about his selection to participate in this prestigious symposium he was taken unawares by the news. But when he came to know the true merit of the programme and the prestige attached to it he was quite overjoyed.
"It is indeed an honor to represent Konkani speaking community of our state. I did not know the importance attached to this symposium. But having realized its true worth now, I am delighted and consider it my privilege to be part of this esteemed symposium. An opportunity like this engulfs me with more vigor and enthusiasm to continue the work I have been doing through Kavita Trust to write, talk and popularize Konkani poems and attract non-Konkanis towards Konkani poems. Getting selected for events of this nature is a great inspiration as it drives away the lethargy and fills me with new energy and liveliness," says a delighted Melvyn.
His selection to participate in the symposium to be held in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, comes at a time when he is all set to come out with a book on the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. He says, "I am actually treading a path filled with worldly luxury. While trying to lead a normal life bereft of luxuries we are attracted by the streams of pleasure that come on our paths. I have not gone to Mahatma Gandhi’s birth place so far. Now that I am all set to come out with a book on him I consider I consider it a great privilege to set foot in his birthplace. I will cherish this memory forever."
National Symposium of Poets was introduced by All India Radio in 1956 and since then it has been an annual event. This symposium acts as a platform for promoting national integration and linguistic harmony. Poets from 22 Indian languages are coming under a common platform which would automatically pave the way for interaction and coordinated presentation of best contemporary poems in all Indian languages and that is the beauty of this unique programme.
Poems in 22 Indian languages will presented by poets chosen from respective languages in the presence of invited audience followed by the rendering of their Hindi versions translated by eminent poets of different languages.
Melvyn Rodrigues, who is also the director (operations) of Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd, has indeed done us all proud and hope he will continue to bring more laurels to the Konkani speaking people of this state.