Mangalore: Vishwa Konkani Awards Conferred on Pundalik Naik, Uday L Bhembre
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Dec 12: Konkani playwright and novelist Pundalik N Naik was awarded the Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar for his book ‘Rangakavya’, while Konkani writer and activist Uday L Bhembre was conferred the Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony here on Wednesday December 12.
The award ceremony was organized by Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation at T V Raman Pai Hall, Kodialbail on the occasion of the 80th birth anniversary celebrations of Vimala V Pai.
Mallepuram G Venkatesh, vice-chancellor of Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bangalore; Basti Vaman Shenoy, president; Vimala V Pai, Tv Mohandas Pai, chairman of Manipal Global Educational Services; Pundalik Naik and his wife Hema Naik, Uday L Bhembre and his wife Kishori Bhembre shared the dias.
The awards were presented by professor Mallepuram G Venkatesh along with other dignitaries. The award consisted of a memento, a citation and cash prize of Rs 1 lac.
Acknowledging the honour, Pundalik Naik said that he was honoured on being conferred the prestigious award. He also remembered the contribution of Krishna Prabhu in his life as he was the one who helped him to grow.
Speaking on drama, he said it has a 2,500-year-old history, and that through this medium he wants to convey a beautiful and meaningful message.
Bhebmre in his address said that he worked for the betternment of Konakni language considering it his duty to do so. He also spoke on the role played by three eminent personalities who helped him in his mission - Shenoy from Mumbai, Madhav Manjunath of Goa and Louis Mascarenhas of Mangalore.
"Over the past 50 years Konkani language has grown vastly. In achieving its own identity, Konkani language has gone through various obstacles and now we should be proud of the language as it is included in the Indian Constitution," he said, adding "We should also be proud that we have a separate Konkani state, that is Goa."
"It is our responsibility to hold our language high, which can be done by excelling socially, educationally and culturally," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Mallepuram said that though Konkani community is micro, its contribution to the field of literature is vast. He lauded Basti Vaman Shenoy for preserving Konkani language through organizing various programmes.
Konkani language basically originated from Sanskrit language but it comprises mostly of the Dravidian languages, he added.
On the occasion, Vimala V Pai was also honored for her contribution to Konkani.
Basti Vaman Shenoy welcomed the gathering, Venkatesh Baliga compered and Meenakshi Pai proposed the vote of thanks.
Pradeep Pai, Ramdas Kamath, Guru Baliga, Melvyn Rodrigues, Raghunath Shet, K B Kharvi, Dr Geetha Shenoy, Gokuldas Prabhu, Dr Kasturi Mohan Pai among others were present.