Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Jan 4: Celebrity artiste and highly acclaimed Eric Ozario would be bestowed with Lifetime achievement award on May 21, at Daiji Dubai’s annual celebration at Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai which is tentatively scheduled as of now. This was confirmed in an official press release by Daiji Dubai. Eric Oazario’s immense and unmatchable contribution towards enriching Konkani language and culture was considered while selecting for the award.
Eric Alexander Ozario, singer, composer, full-time cultural activist, was born on May 18, 1949, in Jeppu, Mangaluru. His parents are the late Prospero Ozario and the late Bernadette Ozario from Jeppu. Eric Ozario is the 7th among 10 siblings. He is commerce graduate from St Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He is married to Joyce Fontes from Mangaluru. They have a daughter Dr Rashmi Kiran and a son Rithesh Kiran, both are blessed with profound singing talent.
In an autobiography published in 2014, writer Royston Fernandes called him ‘The Indefatigable Crusader’. Eric has been a crusader in true sense. His struggles and battles will be an inspiration for many generations to come. As a child he lived in poverty and extremely tough conditions. As a young man he turned rebellious against society and system. His struggles never prevented him dreaming big. Everyone has ability to dream, but not everyone has willingness to truly chase their dreams. Eric knew his dreams were bigger than just a thought or possibility. He believed in them.
That turned him to a celebrated composer and singer par excellence. He is not only an eminent artiste, but also is an artistic inventor, an exceptional planner, an outstanding educationalist, a revered mentor and a distinguished, determined Konkani activist who through his organization Mandd Sobhann, has revitalized Konkani language and culture.
He began with a bank ‘sweet serenade’ and moved over to ‘Dabazo’, an exclusive bank of Konkani songs. His ‘never say die’ love towards Konkani kept him going while going through the struggles and endeavor. Then came ‘Mandd Sobhan’ that he co-founded with two other greats Chafraa and Melvyn Rodrigues, that revolutionized presentation of Konkani culture and folk songs. As a music director he has composed and presented over 500 shows of National and International prominence. Kalangann has been his biggest dream that came true.
Kalangann is a centre of hectic Konkani cultural activities for the last several years ever-since it was inaugurated by Naseeruddin Shah on December 2, 2001. Hundreds of monthly theatre programmes, number of cultural camps, music, dance, theatre and folk workshops, training programmes, research and study of Konkani culture are just a few of the many activities with which Kalaangann has been thriving on. In 2008, Eric made Konkani speaking people proud by placing the language on the world map by their remarkable and record-breaking feat of organizing the Konkani Nirantari programme to enter the Guinness Book of World Records with its 40-hour-long non-stop multi-singer music programme. Daiji Dubai salutes the man, his dreams and his achievements.
It will be a dual celebration of Daiji Dubai as Daiji Dubai Literary award will be bestowed on 2019 winner Clarence Pinto Kaikamba which was postponed due to Covid Restrictions.
Daiji Dubai is a forum of actively dominant group of Konkani writers based in Dubai providing yeoman service to Konkani language and literature for over 21 years. besides its cultural identity, ‘Daiji Dubai’ is also associated with many worthy social causes thereby motivating other people and organizations worldwide.