Udupi: Konkani writers converge at Raknno convention
Media Release
Udupi, Oct 27: ‘Raknno’ Konkani Weekly founded in the year 1938 organized a Konkani Writers’ Convention in the Silver Jubilee Hall of Milagres College, Kallianpur here on Sunday October 27 as part of its Platinum Jubilee year.
The Convention was inaugurated by Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the bishop of Udupi diocese.
“Raknno is one of the important Konkani Weekly that has informed and formed people for 75 years with the effort to upheld truth and Christian values. People have been trained to become writers through Raknno and they have reached many other media today. Religious as well as lay people have put their efforts in Raknno for years. A number of people especially the elderly continue to depend on Raknno, for it has influenced their thinking and way of life,” said Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo in his inaugural and presidential address.
The Convention included informatory and open discussion sessions on the role and responsibility of editors, feature articles, being a good reader and letters to the editor. Editors of different Konkani journals and writers from Udupi and neighbouring districts participated in the convention. The exhibition of books and magazines was held during the convention. Nearly 125 Konkani writers participated in the convention.
Fr Stany B Lobo, the rector of Kallianpur-Milagres Cathedral was the guest of honour. Well-known Konkani writers and linguists Chethan Capuchin, Fr Valerian Fernandes, Wilfred Lobo Padil and J F D’Souza Attavar were the resource persons. Well known writer Dr Gerald Pinto (Gerry Niddodi) the local organizer through Konkani Sangatan of Udupi district welcomed the gathering. The diocese of Udupi assisted in the organization of the convention.
Writers George Castelino Nakre, Catherine Rodrigues Katpady, Louis Almeida Manipal and Dr Gerald Pinto introduced the resource persons. While Fr Francis Rodrigues, the Raknno editor gave the introductory note Cyril G Sequeira, the convenor of Raknno Platinum Jubilee celebrations proposed the vote of thanks. Walter Cyril Pinto compered the programme.
The Platinum Jubilee year of Raknno (1938-2013) was launched in December 2012 and will have a jubilant valedictory on December 15 this year. During the jubilee year Raknno has organized literary meetings, media awareness programmes, publication of books, study of journalistic history of Raknno, exhibition of books and magazines, readers surveys, novel writing and other literary competitions, etc. On the occasion of valedictory it will institute the Raknno Literary Life time award to a senior Konkani writer with felicitation together with cash award of Rs 50,000.
‘Raknno’ though being a Konkani Weekly by nature has strived to keep its readers abreast with the times with wide coverage on agricultural, scientific, medical, legal, economical, political, religious, cultural, educational, social and career guidance issues; constant innovations 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. As a publishing house, Raknno has been publishing both fiction and non - fiction books (titles) having 111 titles and one CD to its credit till date. ‘Kajulo’ published by Raknno is the only Konkani magazine meant exclusively for the children.