Bangalore, Mar 27 (The Hindu): Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, Ramesh Zalki, has said the Government is committed to promoting all minor languages in the State.
Releasing the publications of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy at a function to present the annual awards here on Saturday, Mr. Zalki said the Government was concerned about protecting Tulu, Konkani, Byari and Kodava languages.
Though Konkani was being spoken in the neighbouring States of Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala, none of these States had shown interest in setting up an academy to promote the language. But the Karnataka Government had set up an exclusive academy and had recently increased the annual grant.
“Showing special concern for Konkani, the Government has earmarked Rs. 5 crore for development of the language,” he said.
Awards
Mr. Zalki presented honorary awards to Agnel Rodrigues, Edward Nazareth and Gopinath Bhat for their contribution to language, literature and theatre and presented book awards to Stephen Quadros Permude, Anthony Prakash D'Souza and Catherine Rodrigues.
Prakash Kharvi and Stanley R. D'Costa received special awards for their contribution to sports and the legal field.
Noted historian Suryanath Kamath recalled the contribution of Konkani-speaking writers, including Panje Mangesharaya, Manjeshwara Govinda Pai and Dinakara Desai in enriching Kannada and appealed to the Konkani fraternity to protect their language and culture.
Inaugurating the function, MLA for Malleshwaram Ashwathanarayana observed that the major challenge people faced today was protecting their language and culture in a globalised society. In the race to achieve economic progress, culture had been sidelined in recent years, he noted.
Detailing the activities of the academy, Registrar Shivarudrappa, said that over 800 programmes had been conducted, 56 works had been published and two CDs had been brought out on the language. The academy had conferred 63 honorary awards and 33 book awards.
Presiding over the function, academy chairman Kundapura Narayana Kharvi expressed his gratitude to the Government for its support.