Daijiworld Media Network – Goa
Canacona, Feb 4: Noted Konkani writer-poet Melvyn Rodrigues called upon the need to create simple, thought provoking and need-based literature in Konkani.
Presiding over the 24th Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Sahitya Sammelan held on February 2 and 3, held in Goan city Canacona, Melvyn called upon Konkani writers to desist from creating any literature that might create disharmony in the society. “We need literature which flows out of free thinking, literature which is nature oriented and close to truth, literature filled with substance and literature that fills the reader with a new ray of hope,” he pointed out.
Melvyn also reiterated that a strong and powerful language is necessary to keep the literature alive. Language comes first and that language makes way for good literature. Dwelling in details on the role and responsibility of writers he lamented the increasing religious intolerance and literary fanaticism in the country which he said has affected the freedom of speech and expression. “There is a systematic effort to silence the voice of writers and poets, our identity is under crisis and human values are being completely neglected. Writers are in fact the mirrors of the society. Writers are owners of a powerful and rich legacy called words. Despite possessing such a strong brahmastra if writers keep aloof or remain quiet then we cannot call such writers as conscious keepers of the society. Silence on the part of writers would make way for pseudo writers to have their own say and whatever they say will be believed as gospel truth. In such a situation writers and poets should not remain as dumb spectators but should rise in unison against efforts to silence their voices,” Melvyn contended.
Melvyn also pointed out that the issue of script for Konkani language should be solved at the earliest and called upon the Goa government not to give permission to use any other script other than Devanagari as the administrative language. He said that Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad can play a major role in solving the script issue and give equal importance to Konkani literature written in other scripts. He called upon the Parishad to appoint a committee to select best Konkani books written in different scripts in that particular year and publish them in Devanagiri script. This would provide a wider readership base to Konkani literature and would also enable Konkani writers in different scripts to qualify for Kendra Sahitya Academy awards, he said.
Earlier, the 24th Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Sahitya Sammelan was held with traditional fanfare in Goan city Canacona. The two-day festival was indeed a confluence of Konkani lovers, activists, writers, poets and Konkani speaking people from the four states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa. Apart from several panel discussions, symposiums, poetry recitation and exchange of idea for the betterment of Konkani the conference brought to the fore the Konkani culture in all its diversity and vivacity. Noted Konkani poet-writer Melvyn Rodrigues of Mangaluru, winner of Konkani Sahitya Academy Award and also the prestigious Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Kruti Award, presided over the two-day conference.
The programme began with the welcome song rendered by Poornachandra Chari and group. In the true spirit of the conference the guests showered flower petals to the portraits of four stalwarts of Konkani, Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag, Shenoy Goi Baab, Ravindra Kelekar and Edwardo Jose Bruno de Souza, who contributed in their own ways for the preservation and promotion of Konkani. In fact it was a fitting honour to Edward Jose, as February 2 is observed as Konkani Journalism Day and Edwardo Jose Bruno who put a strong foundation for Konkani journalism when he started the bilingual monthly in Konkani and Portuguese ‘Udenthinche Salak’ which later became a weekly.
Wellknown Marathi writer and novelist Vishwanath Patil who inaugurated the two-day literary festival pointed out that Konkani language apart from facing colonialism had to face the onslaught from its own sister languages, which he said is unfortunate. He said “When politicians divide the country poets and writers have the capacity to build the nation”. He further stated ‘this country has been united by the lyrics written by great writers and their contribution to unite the country cannot be forgotten”.
Patil called upon Konkani writers not to become introverts but to go and mix with people to get a firsthand feel of their pain and reflect that pain through their writings. He also pointed out that dedication is an important virtue for a writer which would go a long way in having desired results in the society.
Usha Rane in her introductory speech highlighted the main objective of the two day conference. On the occasion Sahitya Academi Awardees namely Paresh Kamat, Kumuda Naik, Wilma Bantwal and Narayan Desai were felicitated.
Kamalakar Mhalasi, president of the reception committee welcomed the gathering. Neetu Desai, chairman, Canacona Municipality, Suphala Gaithonde, joint secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad, Usha Rane and Gourish Vernekar, acting president were present on the dais.
The inaugural session was followed by panel discussions on various aspects concerning Konkani, symposium of poets, poetry recitation and general discussions. Cultural programmes representing Konkani speaking people from different parts of Karnataka and neighbouring states was the highlight of the two day conference.
The valedictory function was held on 3rd February and four Konkani activists who have contributed for the betterment of Konkani namely Ramesh Komarpant, Chandrakant Prabhu, Dilip Gaitonde and Martin Fernandes were felicitated on the occasion. While Melvyn Rodrigues presided, Konkani writer Sheela Kolambkar, president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy R P Naik and Samita Madgaonkar, councilor, Canacona Municipality, Ramesh Tawadkar, ex-MLA, Canacona & Sports Minister were the guests at the valedictory function.