Bengaluru: Mudla Konkani Canara Kutam ® recently celebrated its fifth Annual Day at Kross Hall, D’Costa Layout, here.

The day commenced with a solemn mass in Konkani, celebrated by Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo (director PMS India). President of Mudla Kutam, Richard V S welcomed the gathering and thereafter chief guest K J George (minister for Commerce and Industries, Sugar, IT & BT and Science and Technology – Govt of Karnataka) inaugurated the programme, along with other dignitaries, by lighting the lamp and releasing the souvenir to commemorate five years of service to society by Mudla Kutam.

On this occasion, K J George, who incidentally had also inaugurated the first Annual Day of Mudla five years back as the then home minister of Karnataka, mentioned that he wondered how this small group of people could be effective for the welfare of society, but he is now convinced as the organisation has grown so well. He lauded the Mangalurean Catholic Konkani community for giving importance to education. He further said that he was saddened by the fact that during his younger days as a politician, there were many highly placed bureaucrats from the Christian community, but now there is hardly anyone from the community coming forward in the field of civil services and politics. He urged the community to take up such portfolios in the government and pledged his full support to the community. He also advised the youth to take an active part in politics and to join the administrative streams instead of IT and BT sectors.

The programme continued by felicitating the meritorious students, retired professionals, achievements in sports and cultural activities. Dr Edward Anand D’Souza chairman of FKCA who was the guest of honour at the programme, distributed the awards. Dr Edward spoke on how the Konkani community is doing yeomen service as small groups, but needs to come together to make a difference and take up bigger programmes in society.

Cultural events like music, dance and skit concluded the programme with a delicious lunch served at the end.