Media Release
Udupi, Aug 22: Konkani association of St Mary’s Syrian College Brahmavar, organized a programme on the occasion of 'Konkani Manyatha Divas' and published a magazine compiled by the members of the association at the college auditorium on Thursday August 20.
Poet and lyricist Kishoo Barkur released the students’ magazine titled ‘Lhaaraam aani thaaraam’.
While speaking on the occasion, Kishoo Barkur said, “Mother tongue, motherland and religion are ours by default. We have no option to choose them at the time of our birth. Nobody or nothing can deny these things from us too. Wherever we go, we still belong to our motherland. Born in this region of land we have the fortune of easily mastering five to six languages and it is our advantage to lead a successful life. But mother tongue is the language we learned at home and its natural to have respect, pride of our mother tongue. And with this respect we teach this language to our children and they in turn to theirs and in this process, languages are propagated through generations naturally.”
Continuing, he said that he is not sure if the language or religion can be successfully developed by stipulating certain 'must obey' rules and regulations, but was sure that love and respect for language or religion cannot be forced unless it is felt by the people practicing it because it is natural for us to rebel against the rules and regulations when forced. The affection towards religion, language should not cross its limit and turn into an obsession which may lead to unwanted after effects like terrorism. Being human is above all these three things.
He also commended principal, Dr Y R Rao and Alfred Furtado, lecturer and faculty coordinator of Konkani Sangha for their efforts in establishing the first ever Konkani Sangha in the college.
Dr Y R Rao, principal presided over the function.
Ranga Rathna awardee, dramatist Alwyn Andrade, Barkur was the chief guest along with Kishoo, while Alfred Furtado, lecturer and faculty coordinator, Disha D Bhat, student secretary of Konkani association, Raksha Shenoy and Adithi Shenoy were present on the stage.
Disha D Bhat welcomed the gathering and Mohit Kumar proposed the vote of thanks. A short Konkani cultural program was presented by the members of the association.