Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 16: Staunch Konkani supporter and promoter of 'Vision Konkani' programme for the all-round development of Konkani language, literature and culture Michael D Souza will be leading the Reception committee of 25th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan as the president. CA Nandagopal Shenoy, president of World Konkani Centre and Sahitya Akademi awardee Gokuldas Prabhu will be the vice presidents. Konkani poet and thinker Titus Noronha will be the general secretary and journalist H M Pernal will be the working president of the reception committee.
The 25th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan will be held at Basti Vaman Shenoy Stage in the premises of World Konkani Centre on November 4-5. About 650 delegates from various parts of India expected to attend the Sammelan, which Mangalore is hosting for the first time in the 84 years history of All India Konkani Parishad, founded in 1939 by the late Madhav Manjunath Shanbaug of Kumta.
Abu Dhabi-based NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael D'Souza originally hails from Puttur and is a constant supporter for Konkani activities and programmes in India and abroad. With his signature programme 'Vision Konkani', he has empowered Konkani writers and artistes with Konkani book publication grant to the tune of Rs 40 lac, Konkani music grant to the tune of Rs 10 lac and Konkani feature film grant to the tune of Rs 25 lac. Publication of Konkani books, production of music singles, and feature film are under process under his visionary programme 'Vision Konkani'. He has established Edu Care scholarship programme for Konkani speaking students for higher education under the supervision of CODP, diocese of Mangalore. So far, 3,500 students benefited from this scholarship programme.
Various sub-committees were formed in the recently held preliminary meeting under the guidance of Sahitya Akademi executive council member and convenor of Konkani Advisory Board at Sahitya Akademi, poet Melvyn Rodrigues, Chetan Acharya, executive president of All India Konkani Parishad and Konkani educationist Dr Kasturi Mohan Pai at Nalanda English Medium School, V T Road, Mangaluru.
Stephen Pinto, Bendur and Oswald Rodrigues, Bejai will be heading the Finance Committee, World Konkani Centre will be looking after Food and Venue, Suchitra S Shenoy and Felcy Lobo will be leading the front office and volunteer committee, accommodation and transport will he managed by Vincent Pinto Anjelore, Floyd Kiran Moras, Nirkan and Gerald Concesso. Dr Hanumanth Chopdekar and Dr Jayanti Naik are in charge of the programme committee and Anwesha Singbhal will be heading the stage committee. The media promotion committee will be handled by Stany Bela and Praveen Tauro. Titus Noronha will be in charge of the printing and souvenir committee.