Mangalore: Raknno Weekly on the Threshold of Platinum Jubilee
Media Release
Mangalore, Dec 19: 'Raknno' the Konkani Weekly managed by the Diocese of Mangalore, founded in the year 1938 with the motto 'Soth Uloy, Dharm Choloy' (Speak the Truth, Lead the Religion) is stepping into 75th year of its publication on Saturday December 22 at 10.15 am at Bishop's House Hall, Kodialbail.
Raknno Platinum Jubilee Committee under the convenorship of senior writer Cyril G Sequeira and editorship of Fr Francis Rodrigues has planned a few jubilee programmes during the jubilee year.
On December 22, Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza the Bishop of Mangalore will preside over the inaugural programme and launch the jubilee year. Kasargod Chinna, the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi will be the chief guest of the programme. A seminar will follow on the theme 'Contribution of Raknno to Religion, Society and Literature'. Dr Edward L Nazareth, senior writer and orthopaedician; Hemacharya, editor-in-chief of Daijiworld Weekly and Edwin J F D'Souza, senior writer and executive director of St Aloysius College Konkani Institute will present papers on the subject. Former editor of Raknno Fr Mark Walder will moderate the seminar.
'Raknno' though being a Konkani Weekly by nature has strived to keep its readers abreast with the times. The last three decades have been especially significant for Raknno, by publishing a variety of articles, news-features, news-analysis and media criticism, it has gained the loyalty of the people. Raknno has stolen the show by its sensible and wide coverage on agricultural, scientific, medical, legal, economical, political, religious, cultural, educational, social and career guidance issues. Constant innovation and creativity have been Raknno's forte. Humour, satire, serialized novels, feature articles with field work, short stories and special pages for children, youth and women have been promoting literature and the habit of reading.
Raknno editors over the years
As a publishing house, Raknno has been publishing both fiction and non - fiction books (titles). Having 110 titles and one CD to its credit till date, it has published the largest number of Konkani books in Kannada script. 'Kanun Darshan' (Legal Presentation) a book on legal awareness by Shirthady William Pinto published by Raknno in June 2006 has seen a record sale with 6 editions and 'Randhpah Kudanth' (In the Kitchen) a book on recipe has seen 3 editions.
Started by founder editor Msgr Sylvester Menezes in 1938, this Weekly has grown to become the mouth piece of the Konkani people representing their thoughts, feelings, hopes and aspirations. Today, it is the largest circulated Konkani Weekly throughout India, Gulf and European Countries. Raknno has broken all barriers of caste, creed and community by its approach through modern responsible journalism. Raknno today enjoys three distinct dimensions, that of an Institution, a Newspaper and a Publication. Raknno became the first institution to systematically take up the challenge of training young budding writers. It annually helps postgraduate students of journalism through scholarships. It helps socio-religious and literary causes. Since long it has organized number of literary programmes in association with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
'Kajulo' published by Raknno is the only Konkani Magazine meant exclusively for the children. It was established in 1998 as memorial of 60 years of growth of Raknno. It presents light but informative and entertaining reading as per the taste of the children in the form of stories, fun pages, cartoon stories, quizzes, competitions, etc.
During the year there will be programmes in different places to train the writers, Konkani entertainment programmes in various places, special literary competitions through Raknno including a competition of writing novels in Konkani, exhibition of books and magazines, publication of books etc. Raknno will institute a special jubilee memorial award which would be given annually to a senior konkani writer. The jubilee year will be concluded in December 2013 with a grand finale.