Media Release

Mangaluru, Dec 18: Goan students have won all the three prizes in the Charles and Theresa Rodrigues memorial XIII All India Konkani poetry writing competition conducted by Kavita Trust. Sanika Pawar, studying in tenth class of Sarvodaya Educational Society’s high school, Goa has won the first prize. Her poem ‘Robotic Mamma’ speaks in a child’s language about her mother who has remained the same in this electronic era and how she gets recharged herself in minutes by embracing her own child, when she gets tired of daily chore activities.

Second prize has been won by Anisha Gaude, studying in tenth grade of Mageshi’s V D and S V Wagle high school. Her poem ‘Prasn’ (question) raises simple innocent questions of a child as to how the birds suddenly get up in the morning, sing beautiful songs and build their own nests.

(Left to right): Sanika R Pawar, Deeksha Shetmandrekar and Anisha Gaude

Third prize winner Deeksha Shetmandrekar studies in tenth grade of Mandre High School, Goa. Her poem “I am Radio, Speaking” talks about the Radio which wants to resurrect from being thrown into oblivion.

While the first prize winner gets Rs 2,000, second and third prize winners get Rs 1,000 and Rs 750 in cash, a memento and certificate. All the 143 participants will be sent certificates through their schools by the Trust.

This competition was started thirteen years ago by the founder of Kavita Trust, Melvyn Rodrigues, in memory of his late parents. Total of 2432 students have taken part in this competition thus far. Prize distribution will be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Madgaon, Goa, during the 14th edition of Kavita Fest which will be held on January 11 and 12, 2020. Konkani author and critic Prof Narayan Desai will be the chief guest during the occasion.