Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Jan 22: Konkani music lovers who came in large numbers enjoyed every moment of Norbert Nite held on Sunday, January 22 at St Agnes Special School Grounds. The show was organized by Alfred Bennis Creations, Mangaluru.
In a brief stage programme held in the beginning, special guests Roy Castelino, president, Konkani Sahitya Academy, Louis Pinto, president, Mandd Sobhann, Godwin D’Souza, MD of Plant-Tech, Joseph Mathias, MD of Merit Freight Services, and Jovita Sequeira graced the dais. Fr Joachim Fernandes, parish priest of Kelarai Church presided over the programme.
Roy Castelino asked Konkani people to speak their mother tongue at home and support the language by telling their children to take up Konkani in school. "There are 40,000 Konkani speaking students in the state. But only 500 are studying Konkani. This number should go up. Konkani is the language of people of three religions and 41 different communities," Roy said. He also called upon people to support national-level fest 'Konkani Lokotsav' to be held in February in city.
Louis Pinto said that Konkani does not enjoy much support from the government as it is not a state language. "Yet, people have made it rich. Going by the number of Konkani programmes being held, there is no doubt that Konkani has attained the best patronage from people. I am happy that good days have come for Konkani. But ultimately the responsibility to transfer Konkani to the next generation falls on us. Let us not blame the youngsters for not speaking their language. Let us encourage them instead."
Fr Joachim Fernandes said, "Let us invent new methods to teach Konkani to the young generation. Old methods of telling them, to learn in the way we learnt, will be of no help. This is a modern generation. They need the techniques which they can adapt easily. I am sure Konkani will not die if we change our attitude towards it."
All the speakers had praise for Alfred Bennis who organised all 23 shows in the past ten years for the sake of charity.
NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Joseph Mathais was felicitated for his generous help towards the poor and downtrodden as well as for patronising art, culture, music and literature.
After receiving the felicitation Joseph Mathais said, "I have always wanted to support those who want to come up in life. Happiness and wealth need to be shared. The art is the lifeblood of a society. Preserving one’s mother tongue and its culture is the responsibility of all the people. We should support the artistes. There are some artistes like Norbert Pereira from Doha, Stan Mendonca from England, Lancy Moras from Saudi Arabia and Lancy Noronha from Dubai who have kept the culture alive even in foreign lands. They come occasionally to their native place and perform here. People from here also should show same amount of love and patronage to Konkani. Then only Konkani art will reach a higher place. I thank Alfred Bennis for felicitating me. Though I hesitate to be honoured on stage, I am humbled today."
Felix Moras compered the state programme. Sharal D’Souza welcomed and Fiona Bennis thanked.
What followed was sheer magic in music. Norbert with Nancy Pereira, melody queen Babita Pinto, Joseph Mathias, Rony Crasta, Ashwin D’Costa, Jyotsna D’Souza and Melric Monteiro rendered their voices in the musical show. Popular hits of Norbert Pereira such as ‘Prathver Kalok Manddthana’, ‘Mira Mira’, ‘Dees Ami Ashelho’ and ‘Tuje Sobith Dole’ were performed in addition to old and new numbers.
Ace music director Roshan D'Souza and his team provided the music.
‘Thunder Guys’, Bajpe performed beautiful and well choreographed dances /
Popular comedian trio 'Me-Mo-Ri' comprising Mellu, Richie Sequeira and Jerome Moras with support from Shaun Rodrigues and Sunil created laughter with their hilarious jokes.
The show was compered by well-known master of ceremony Arun Raj Rodrigues.
Daijiworld was the media partner of the event.
The proceeds of this show were in aid of St Anna School, Kelarai for upgrading the school building.