Mangaluru: Highlighting the need to work for the growth of Konkani language, Kannada writer Kum. Veerabhadrappa on Saturday called for efforts to bring out a Kannada-Konkani-Kannada dictionary.
Inaugurating a day-long Konkani literary meet here, he said Konkani had braved many onslaughts from the Dutch and Portuguese and emerged stronger. Describing it as a language that evoked a sense of pride in its speaker, he said Kannada had borrowed thousands of words from it and had grown richer.
Kannada being a language that easily embraced other languages, it has cherished a history with Konkani dating back to centuries. Konkani speakers on the coast may have been soft by nature, but brave warriors in the Chola and Pallava kingdoms were said to be Konkani speakers and left their areas to be part of wars. Appreciating the tonal quality of the language which was “colourful”, he said Konkani was “music to ears. We are fortunate to have it in Karnataka”.
Konkani writer Edwin Netto will preside over the proceedings. The 1,008-page novel ‘Unya Bhavadthache’ written by Edwin J.F. D’Souza and a collection of poems ‘Ayeracho Book’ by Andrew L. D’Cunha were released. The new website of the academy was dedicated to the community at the meet, which saw some achievers being honoured. The academy’s calendar was also released.
Konkani literature after 2000 was the theme of one of the seminars. Another panel discussed various aspects of Konkani Education while poets’ meet was also organised. A Konkani cultural procession starting from the venue – Scouts Bhavan – at 4 p.m. passed through Lady Hill, the Mangalore City Corporation and came back to the venue where a stage function was held. It was followed by cultural programmes.
Konkani Sahitya Academy president Ronald Castelino sought that more importance should be given to Konkani as a medium of instruction and wondered why fewer films were being made in Konkani while Tulu films were being released in large numbers.
‘Insult in Legislative Council’
Konkani Sahitya Academy pres-ident Ronald Castelino on Saturday said the Karnataka Legislative Council had insulted the language by not encouraging Mangaluru-based MLC Ivan D’Souza to speak in Konkani though it was one of the official languages of the country. He said he had written letters seeking that this should be set right. Mr. D’Souza was told that nobody would be able to understand if he spoke in Konkani and his speech would not be recorded.
