Media Release

Ernakulam, May 26: ‘UKTYA MALLBA KHALA’ is an anthology of Konkani travelogues compiled and edited by Kendra Sahitya Academy award winning Konkani poet, Saratchandra Shenoi (Palluruthy). This was released in gathering of writers and enthusiasts held at Anugraha Charitable Trust on May 24.

The function started with a prayer by Rema Devi J, one of trustees.

The compiler-editor Saratchandra Shenoi welcomed the gathering and introduced the book as well as the writers. The anthology, termed the first of its kind, was released by R Bhaskar Shenoi, president, Anugraha trust, by giving the first copy to N Muralidhar Pai, the trust secretary. Felicitations were rendered by writers, S Ramakrishna Kini, P S Vasanthakumari and K N R Bhat.

The anthology comprises travelogues penned by 11 Konkani writers of Kerala - Late Valsala R Shenoy (Palluruthy), Late Anandi Kamath (Mumbai), P S Vasanthakumari (Fort Kochi), Jaya Raju (Kollam), J Rema Devi (Ernakulam), S Ramakrishna Kini (Elamakkara), Radhika Shenoi (Palluruthy), Usha R. Bhat (Kochi), Anasuya S. (Irinjalakuda), Revathy Sreekanth (Calicut) and Surya Ashok (Palluruthy).

Most of the travelogues had won either the ‘Pandharinath Bhuvanendra Sahitya Puraskar’ or the ‘Vyshnava Ratna Sahitya Puraskar.’ Many of the travelogues had previously appeared in monthlies like ‘Vyshnava Ratna’ and ‘Saraswath Vani’. The anthology is dedicated to the memory of Late Dr P B Janardhan (Chennai) and Late V Ananda Bhat (Karanakodam) as they were greatly instrumental in encouraging prose writing in Konkani.