Mangalore: City literati, family shower rich tributes on poet Leo D'Souza
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Oct 18: Tributes and condolences poured in from literary figures of the city and family members during the condolence meet held for multi-lingual poet and writer Leo John D’Souza, fondly known as ‘Liyab’ and ‘Kavyadas’. The meet was jointly organized by ‘Raknno’ Konkani weekly, Sandesha Foundation, Mangalore, Kavita Trust, and Konkani Writer’s Forum, Karnataka, at Bishop’s House here on Friday October 18.
Kavita Trust president Melvyn Rodrigues said that Liyab appreciated the traditional method of writing poems. “In his 3,000 poems, Liyab gave importance to rhyme, rhythm, and metre and did not encourage the modern Konkani poetry written in free verse. He wrote many poems in sonnet form” he said.
Fr Franklin Menezes and Jovita D’Souza, brother-in-law and granddaughter of Liyab, spoke on behalf of the family. Fr Menezes said that Liyab was more than just a poet and was a man who valued relationships. “Although his four children are scattered in distant lands such as Bangalore, Canada, Dubai, and the United States, he was in touch with them every day. If not call, he would at least send emails enquiring about them. He updated himself with computers and latest technology to be in touch with his family,” he added.
Commenting on his poetic works, Fr Menezes said that Liyab had a spark of famed poet Rabindranath Tagore in him. “He upheld the values of secularism and brotherhood and strived for the transformation of human life,” he said.
Jovita said, “I received two emails when I reached a far land for higher studies after being with grandpa for 20 years. If one mail was to enquire about the journey, the other mail had a motivational message. That was just it. He did it every day not just for me but for all his family who were far. We in the family joked about it as he sent emails to all of us all day. And today, we miss him all the more.”
His childhood friend and former deputy mayor Judith Mascarenhas recalled her early days with Leo. “Whenever we wanted translations of Konkani works in English, we asked him. He happily did it. He was a multi-faceted personality. We knew he would become a great man.” She concluded saying, “Life of great people is a reminder to all of us that we should also strive to be the same.”
Kannada writer Dr Na Damodhar Shetty and Konkani writer C G S Taccode spoke on the journalistic and literary contributions of Leo D"Souza.
Editor of ‘Raknno’ Fr Francis Rodrigues welcomed and Fr Victor Vijay Lobo of Sandesha Foundation, Mangalore, proposed the vote of thanks. H M Pernal, Konkani writer and president of Konkani Writers' Forum, Karnataka compered the programme.
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