Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 10: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi organised ‘Kavyaan Vhalo-19’, a Konkani poetry meet, at the Akademi auditorium on October 10.

Akademi president Joachim Stany Alvares presided over the programme and, in his introductory address, said that ‘Kavyaan Vhalo’ was not merely a Konkani poetry gathering but also a platform to bring people from different Konkani communities into the Akademi’s activities. He said the initiative helped strengthen the bond between the Akademi and the Konkani-speaking community. He added that the Akademi took pride in bringing together more than 150 Konkani poets and providing them with a platform to contribute to the literary world. He welcomed the gathering.

Richard Moras, convenor of the Konkani Lekhak Sangh, Karnataka, attended as the chief guest and released the poetry collection ‘Kavyaan Vhalo-3’ published by the Akademi. Speaking on the occasion, he recalled the words of renowned Kannada poet D R Bendre that poetry should be born in the heart and find expression through the voice. He said literature should remain dynamic like a flowing river and that poetry was not merely an arrangement of words but a beautiful expression of experiences and emotions.

Konkani folk artist and musician Mukund Kharvi was felicitated by the Akademi. Accepting the honour, he expressed his gratitude for recognising his humble achievements. Saying that he preferred expressing his feelings through music rather than words, he presented a Konkani folk song on the occasion.

Renowned poet Irene Rebello conducted the poetry session and spoke in detail about the poets and their works. Ravindra Nayak Sannakibettu, Prabha Rego, Vincent Pinto Anjelore, Shyamala Vasanth Kompadavu, Stanislaus D’Souza Kirem, Salomi Mogarnad, Maxim Ludrig Bondel, Satyavati Kamath, Alwyn Danti and Robert D’Souza recited their poems.

Akademi member Ronald Crasta compered the programme and proposed the vote of thanks.