Mangalore: Jo Cy Siddakatte Conferred Kittall's 'Yuva Puroskaar'
Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 6: It is one year since Kittall.com, the literary Konkani website came into existence and the anniversary was celebrated on Sunday February 5 by presenting the first “Kittall Yuva Puroskaar” to young and upcoming Konkani writer Joseph Cyril D'Souza, popularly known by his pen name Jo Cy Siddakatte.
Konkani writer, journalist and playwright Dolphy Lobo Cascia presented the award to Jo Cy Siddakatte in a simple get-together held at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama to celebrate the first anniversary of the website. Jo Cy was honoured with a citation and prize money of Rs 10,000/-. Vithory Karkal read the citation in honor of Jo Cy Siddakatte.
Speaking on the occasion Dolphy Cascia applauded the good work done by Kittall.com in the last one year saying “Kittall has not only created social awareness but also has created awakening, warmth for Konkani literature among people. At the same time he also emphasized the role of media saying “whether the cat is black or white is immaterial. What we need to know is whether the cat is capable of catching rats”.
Accepting the award Jo Cy Siddakatte remarked that after receiving the award “he felt like a primary student who has been asked to answer SSLC examination by his headmaster”, and here the headmaster was a obvious reference to H M Pernal. He also said that though young writers like him get lot of encouragement for their writings they don’t get necessary guidance in this respect. “For me books have been my guide. Without ploughing we cannot expect good crop, similarly one cannot produce good literature without reading good literature”, he declared. While thanking H M Pernal for his altruistic support and guidance he said the award is both a challenge and responsibility for him as a writer.
Konkani Writer’s Online Data
The anniversary celebration was like a three-in-one programme as in the same platform Konkani Writer’s online database was inaugurated by Roy Castelino, Konakni activist and President of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan. This was followed by the inauguration of “Kittall Class” by J R Lobo, Executive Director of Pilikula Nisarga Dhama. Kittall Class is a monthly series of talks and J R Lobo also delivered the first lecture on “media activism” on this occasion.
Roy Castelino opined that for the first time he has seen someone working for the cause of Konkani smiling and end of one year by saying he has got complete satisfaction in what he has done. “Kittall.com has effectively filled the void seen in Konkani literature on online and has found acceptance among people. While writing about the positive aspects of the society media should also highlight the wrong doings in the society and become the voice of the voiceless which is equally important”, Roy castelino stated.
H M Mendonca, the man behind the website whose dedication, devotion and determination has singularly worked to spread the spark of awareness, expressed satisfaction that his website has taken a strong footing among Konkani readers by growing beyond his own imagination. “Kittall.com has carried out its basic objective of creating social awareness and also providing a proper conduit for seasoned Konkani writers and encouraging new talent in Konkani writing”, H M Pernal said in his welcome address.
He also said the on-line data basis of Konkani writers by Kittall.Com is an effort to provide the data base of Konkani writers on-line to enable people to view their profile on Kittall from anywhere any time. Kittall would provide a complete literary window of Konkani writers through this online data base.
Commenting on the progress made by Kittall.com he said apart from the regular columns and special articles Kittall.com has introduced new programmes including the visual media in the website which has elicited good response from the people. “With visual media there is no barrier of script and it has transcended all obstacles in reaching out to people”, he pointed out. Further he said “a journalist is just a vehicle. Analysis, awareness and action are the jobs of the media. Media should not hesitate to expose the wrong doings of people or institutions. If it fails in its primary objective then our society cannot advance”. He thanked his regular writers, columnists and emerging young writers who have helped enrich the literary content of his website.
Media Activism and Indian Media
In the first “Kittall Class” J R Lobo dealt with the role of media during India’s freedom struggle, evolution and revolution of Indian media, media today and trial by media. He emphasized the importance of original thinking to bring about the much needed social change. He also pointed out that governments all over the world try to suppress the media whenever it finds it goes against their interests. “Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested and jailed by the British to instill fear among other journalists during India’s freedom struggle. But they did not succeed. Instead, the media became all the more powerful and active and it spearheaded India’s struggle for freedom”, he asserted. .
He also said now that India is all set to emerge as a global economic power byy 2020, media has an important role to play in India in protecting the hard earned independence of the country, in safeguarding our democratic values and in building a strong new India. Pointing out that media activism in India had started during the period of emergency in our country in the mid 70’s J R Lobo said despite formidable efforts of the government to suppress the media it could not do anything to curb it. Giving examples of media activism he cited issues like Jessica Lal murder case, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Ruchika murder case, Bofors, Land Scam in Karnataka, Housing scam in Maharashtra, 2 G Spectrum case and many other scams unearthed by the media, J R Lobo said whether the media should do the trial or just report the event is an issue open for debate.
At the same time he also spoke about declining professionalism among journalists, corruption in media, the issue of paid news and the tendency to create sensationalism out of nothingness. “Media should give priority for development oriented issues, uphold the cause of the poor and the downtrodden and not to indulge in tarnishing the name or image of the person or organization without giving them an opportunity to defend. In the absence of positive journalism democracy will be in peril”, he said. He also emphasized the need of creating moral fear among people to remove corruption from the society.
Earlier, H M Pernal invited to the stage his Kittall family comprising his technical and media crew and all those associated with the maintenance of the website. Vincent Alva compered the programme and Pinto Vamanjoor delivered the vote of thanks. The programme was followed by lunch.
It is indeed commendable that with the completion of one year and inaugurating two more programmes, Kittall.com has lived up to the promise it had made a years ago - of providing quality literature and ushering in social change and that of providing a platform for young writers, poets, thinkers, critics and also the for the general public to articulate their views on a variety of subjects of public interest. It is also noteworthy to mention that H M Pernal has set a new precedent by instituting the Kittall Yuva Puroskaar from the money he had received, rather than going in search of a donor for the same.