Daijiworld Media Network—Goa (CN)

Panaji, Apr 13: Dalgado Konknni Akademi has announced its annual awards to personalities who have contributed to the development of Konknni in Roman script. Fr Manuel Gomes, who has 15 books to his credit, will be honoured with the ‘Dalgado Literary Award 2010’ for his life time contribution to Konkani literature in Roman script.

Antonio Rosario Fernandes, popularly known as ‘Roseferns’ in the ‘Tiatr’ field will be conferred with ‘Dalgado Cultural Award 2010’ for his life time contribution to Konkani culture. Both these awards carry a shawl, a memento, a citation, and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each.

Dalgado Konknni Akademi’s ‘Fr Freddy J da Costa Award 2010’ for journalism in Konkani in Roman script  will be presented to Vincy Quadros, who is a regular contributor to practically all the periodicals in Konkani in Roman script. He also has over seven books to his credit.

‘Dalgado Puroskar 2010’ for youth contribution to Konkani in Roman script will be conferred on Romano Rodrigues who writes essays, stories, and poems in his inimitable style. Both these awards carry a shawl, a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each.

Premanand Lotlikar, president, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) congratulated all the awardees and hoped that their example of love and sacrifice in the development of Konkani in Roman script will inspire the youth of today to work with dedication for the progress of our mother tongue Konkani.

The Awards will be presented in a special function to be held on Friday April 15 at 4.15 pm at Ravindra Bhavan’s Conference Hall, Margao.

Fr Manuel Gomes

Fr Manuel Gomes is the Director of the Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate and Professor of Pastoral Institute, Old-Goa. He is also the visiting professor of Gujarat Vidyadeep, Baroda, Mater Dei Institute and Sangam, Goa. Formerly he was the professor of Rachol Seminary and rector of the seminary of Our Lady, Saligao – Pilerne where besides other subjects, he taught Konkani for nine years to SSCE students.

Born in the picturesque village of Benaulim, Goa, Fr Gomes began his education in Portuguese and completed ‘Primeiro Grau’. Thereafter, he joined Loyola High School, Margao, where he completed his XIth SSCE. Then joined the seminary of Our Lady, Saligao. After the completion of his priestly studies at Rachol Seminary, he was ordained priest on April 27, 1980. He obtained his Licentiate in Church History from the Jesuit University, Gregoriana, in Rome, his thesis being ‘The Missionary Methods of Fr Joseph Vaz; History and Actuality’. Later, he obtained a Master’s degree in Spiritual Theology from the Dominican University in Rome, Angelicum, with the thesis, ‘The Relevance of the Ignatian Ideal of Finding God in All Things to the Diocesan Priests’.

An expert in Konkani, he was one of the major contributors in the preparation of our Konkani Lectionary, ‘Vachpam Grônth’ in 1983. Besides he has written, edited, and translated more than a dozen books, the most famous being ‘From Roots to Fruits’ and the four coloured books on the Bible, two on the Old Testament, and two on the New Testament. His translation of Sr Usha’s books ‘Hidden Springs to Healing’ and ‘Prayers for Healing’ became very popular. Besides this, he has authored erudite historical articles both in English and Konkani. But his greatest contribution was that he gave to the Konkani-speaking world, the long awaited Bible in Roman script, the ‘Povitr Pustok’ in 2006, which had a first print of 60,000 copies and then another 40,000 copies.

Fr Gomes has written, edited, and translated the following books: ‘Raiturchê Siminaricho Itihas’, ‘Pekovnnecheo Liploleo Zhori’, ‘Pekovnnê Khatir Magnnim’, ‘Povitr Atmo’, ‘Sfurti Ditoleô Jezu Kristacheô Xikovnnyô’, ‘Devachea Utrachi Yatra Deva Utran’, ‘Kallza Gottheant’, ‘Jezu Jivitant’,  ‘Povitr Pustok Koxem Vach’chem’, ‘Devachem Utor ani Amchem Jivit’, ‘Bhagevont Fransisk Xavier’, ‘Devachea Utracho ani Jezucho Sakxidar’, ‘Bhasavnni’, ‘Zannvayecho Ulo ani Provadiancho Tallo’, ‘Devachim Vortim Vismitam’, ‘Jezuchim Jivim Kirnnam’, ‘From Roots to Fruits - Vol. I & II’, and ‘Blessed Joseph Vaz – A Creative Missionary Ahead of His Time’. 

Roseferns

Antonio Rosario Fernandes, who is popularly known as ‘Roseferns – The King of Centuries’ in the Tiatr field, formed his ‘Roseferns Dramatic Troupe’ in 1980 with the release of ‘Thapott’ tiatr, which completed 230 shows recently, a rare achievement in the history of Konkani stage. Till date he has written, directed and produced 69 Tiatrs and non-stop Tiatrs, and most of them have completed century shows. ‘Arso’, ‘Xezari’, ‘Bavlem’, ‘Ghantt’, ‘Amchim Bhurgim Amcho Fuddar’, ‘Tumchea Moga Pasot’, ‘Mitt’, ‘Maim Tuzo Upkari Hanv’, ‘Uzo’, ‘Dev vo Devchar’, and ‘Akant’, are some of the mind blowing productions to his credit. He not only entertained the audience with his tiatrs, but he tried to create awareness among Goans and to save Goa from the clutches of the non-Goans with his hit Tiatrs ‘Gõykar’, ‘Hem Amchem Gõy?’, ‘Ami Gõykar, Tumi Konn?’, ‘Gõykara’, ‘Tum Ragar Zainaka’, and ‘Mhaka Kiteak Poddlam?’ His 70th production ‘Pager’ will be released on Sunday April 24.

Roseferns has produced five Konkani Albums 1) Ageema 2) Roseanna 3) Teg Nhovre 4) Ghorkarn’n  5) Guru and also written, directed and produced Konkani video films – ‘Don Rupam’, and ‘Ek Vat Mennachi’. He has also produced VCD's like ‘Amchim Bhurgim Amcho Fuddar’, and ‘Gõykar’.

Recently, he celebrated the 30th anniversary of  Roseferns Dramatic Troupe and  released his Tiatr ‘Thapott’ in a book form.

Besides, Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Roseferns travelled  to Gulf countries - Dubai, Bahrain, Muscat, Qatar, Kuwait, The United Kingdom - Croydon, Swindon, and London, and in  European countries - Germany, and England to stage his tiatrs for Goans working abroad.   

Roseferns was awarded the ‘Best Director Gulab Award’ thrice and the ‘Best Writer Award’. He was also awarded the ‘Dr. Jack de Sequeira Award’ for his contribution to the Tiatr stage.  He was felicitated for his immense contribution to Konkani culture through Tiatr by numerous associations such as Kuwait Goa Tiatristanchi Sonvstha – Kuwait, Kuwait Goa Association, Goa Konkani Academy, and Sindhudurg Konkani Association (Sawantwadi), to name the few.  Currently, he is serving as the vice-president of Tiatr Academy.

Vincy Quadros

Vincy Quadros, hailing from Arlem, Raia, has been active in the field of Konkani. A diploma holder in journalism, he served as the editor of ‘Gõycho Avaz’, ‘Porzoll’, and ‘Jivit’ monthly. He has contributed to most of the Konkani magazines and periodicals  including ‘Novem Goem’, ‘Vavraddeancho Ixtt’, ‘Goencho Avaz’, ‘Gulab’, ‘The Goan Review’, ‘Konkan Mail’, ‘Govavanni’, ‘Mog’, ‘Sod’, ‘Rakhonndar’, ‘Uzvadd’, ‘Sobdacho Prokas’, ‘Lharam’, ‘Jivit’, ‘Umalle’, and others. He has authored short stories books which have fetched him the literary awards of Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Thomas Stephen Konkani Kendr’s ‘First Martyr Floriano Vaz Award’. He has bagged awards for other literary forms too such as essay, poetry, and one-act play writing competitions organized by different Konkani organizations in the state.

Vincy has participated in the state, national, and international level panel discussions on various subjects.He has served as the chairman and secretary of various literary and social organizations. 

Romano Rodrigues

Romano Rodrigues, who is pursuing his M A studies in Konkani, has been writing essays, poems and stories in Konkani Roman script on various topics. His writings can be seen in ‘Gulab’, ‘V. Ixtt’, ‘Gõykar’, ‘Konkonn Divo’, ‘Dor Mhoineachi Rotti’, ‘The Goan Review’, and ‘Gõycho Avaz’. He has participated in several Konkani contests on writing stories, poems, and essays and bagged several prizes. He writes mostly on current topics with depth and he is a promising writer in Konkani Roman script.