Translation of 190 Vachanas into Konkani by Stephen Quadros Released

Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, May 14: The Konkani translation of 190 Vachanas by Stephen Quadros Permude, which was published by Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in the form of a book, was released during a function held at Sandesha, Bajjodi here on Saturday May 14.
 
St Aloysius College ex-principal, renowned Kannada and Konkani writer Jesuit priest Fr Prashant Madtha released the book. In his address he said that epic poems written during the ruling period of kings mainly aimed at flattering kings, whereas vachanas turned out to be the voice of the common people and were a means to create social awareness.

Roy Castelino presided over the programme. He said that given the dearth of vachana literature in Konkani, it was a good move to translate them to Konkani.

Vachana literature is a rich corpus of literature in Kannada. This form was used for the first time by Veera Shaiva saints of 12 – 13 century AD in Uttar Karnataka. As such Basavanna and his other contemporaries popularized this form of writing in Kannada.

The form of writing, in the 20th -century has come to be closely linked with what is called the social revolution of that period in Karnataka led by the vachana writers, such as Basaveshwara, Akka Mahadevi, Allama Prabhu and Siddaramaiah. The fact has been attributed to the popularity of the movement.

More than 230 Vachana writers (vachanakara) have been recorded of which more than 30 were women. About 20,000 vachanas have been published so far.

Eric Ozario welcomed the gathering. Vittori Karkala delivered the vote of thanks.