Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, April 7: Kavita Trust, an organisation dedicated to the promotion of Konkani poetry, hosted 'Manohar Saanz' to honour the legacy of one of India’s finest poets, Manoharrai Sardessai. The event took place at Jawahar Jyoti, the residence of Josephine D’Souza in Nagori, Mangaluru on April 6.
The founder of Kavita Trust, Melvyn Rodrigues, set the tone for the event with an insightful introduction to Sardessai’s life and works, punctuated by recitations of select poems spanning different phases of the poet’s career.
Noted speaker H M Pernal highlighted Sardessai’s stature as the preeminent Konkani poet from 1950 to 1990. He explored the poet’s philosophies on life, religion, and divinity through a selection of his verses.
The literary celebration continued with poetry recitations by Felcy Lobo, Joyce Pinto, Manoj Fernandes, Salomi Miyapadavu, Grishma Saldanha, Jason Lobo, and Flavia Albuquerque. Attendees also participated by selecting and reading short poems from Sardessai’s renowned books 'Pisollim' and 'Zayo-Zuyo'.
The latter half of the event featured a special musical presentation by the Rasquinha family. Arthur Rasquinha, son of Simon Rasquinha, and Ullas Rasquinha, son of J B Rasquinha, along with their siblings and relatives, rendered melodies from 'Chaltim Podam', originally published by Simon and Company.
Some of these compositions, penned by the legendary Rasquinha brothers, showcased the rich tradition of Konkani lyrical artistry. Arthur Rasquinha also shared his insights on the evolution of poetry, comparing traditional and contemporary styles.
During the occasion, Prem Moras, who was awarded a doctorate for his research work in Konkani from Srinivas University, was honoured by Josephine D'Souza, H M Pernal, and Felcy Lobo. The latter two were recognised for their poetry books, which were published by Kavita Trust and received awards from the Goa Konkani Akademi and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.
Host Josephine D’Souza extended a warm welcome to all guests, while William Pais, Trustee of Kavita Trust, underscored the importance of such gatherings, especially in an era when many historical homes and buildings in Mangaluru are being lost to modernisation. He concluded the evening with a heartfelt vote of thanks.
The event not only celebrated the literary genius of Manoharrai Sardessai but also served as a reminder of the enduring cultural and poetic heritage of Konkani literature.