Media Release

Mangaluru, Dec 31: The book release programme of the first compilation of stories of Konkani writer JL Manjarapalke (Jyoti D'Silva) by the name 'Chondremachim Khatam' (scars of moon) was held under the joint auspices of Srujana Prakashana and Konkani Association of St Aloysius College on Sunday, December 30 at the Sanidhya auditorium of the college.

The book was released by Volga, Sanjana, Hanisha, Joshwa, Jean and Srujana, young children, who were present in the auditorium.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest of the function and former president of Konkani Sahitya Academy, Roy Castelino said, "Today the young children present here have released this book. The future of any language lies in the language of children who speak that language. A language survives and grows only when children speak that language. Children have to learn Konkani so that the next generation will be able to read and write Konkani literature. There is opportunity for this in schools. Let children make use of the same."

Giving the glimpse of the contents and subject of the book, Fr Dr Melwin Pinto, director of Konkani Association of St Aloysius College, said, "Sensitivity of women is not the property of lady writers alone. Male authors and men in the society should have more sensitivity about women. But this is not happening. If the sensitivity towards women was more in the patriarchal society, it would have helped to provide women with suitable position in the society. How beautiful would be the universe, if this were to happen? It is not easy for the women writers to author books in the midst of their family responsibilities. JL Manjarapalke has also written the literature in the midst of similar family responsibilities. The stories in this book depict the sensitivity, shame and pain of women and also the various faces of the world of women."

Dr Alwyn D'Sa, vice-principal of St Aloysius College, who presided over the function, said, "We have built one world each for men, women and children. We go to the respective world as and when we wish. However, women have to make herculean effort to preserve their existence. We have several stories of grand narrations. However, writers like JL have many alternative stories. Literature of this kind has made lots of silent revolution."

Donors and representatives of Konkani magazines and organizations were felicitated on the occasion. Author JL did the introductory speech. Vitori Karkala of Srujana Prakashana, publishers of the book welcomed the gathering and compered the programme.