Mangalore: Learning Konkani through trekking - Daiji Dubai's unique workshop

Sunil Haleangady
Pics: Jackson D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)

Mangalore, Dec 2: Daiji Dubai, Mangalore unit in association with local Konkani groups organized ‘Aaz Ami Konkani Ulowyan’ (Let's Speak Konkani Today), a Konkani workshop for school students at Quila, near Moorukaveri, Kinnigoli on Sunday, December 1. The experience was unique for students as the workshop sought to inspire them to learn Konkani language and culture by taking them through an interesting trek.

Inaugurating the workshop, Fr Alfred J Pinto, parish priest of Kinnigoli church stressed on the need to organize Konkani workshops in order to retain the language, its literature, folklore and culture and enable their growth in the modern era of technology.

The workshop was inaugurated in a unique manner by pouring rice into a hay basket. Former vice-president of zilla panchayat Shalet Pinto, local host Carmine Rodrigues, retired teacher Stella Pinto along with Daiji Dubai members CGS Taccode, Melvyn Rodriuges and Hemacharya were present on the dais.

Soon after the inauguration four groups of children consisting of 20 members each, headed by their leaders and instructors were escorted to a trekking-cum-learning journey. They stopped at different places, like cowshed, house, waterstreams, courtyard, hill, jungle etc where the instructors gave them live demonstrations and showed artefacts used by older generations. Rocky Pinto, Raphael Rebello, Winnifred Pinto, Nelson Sequeira, Manu Bahrain, Bennybai, Victor Mathias and Walter Dantis were the instructors.

In the afternoon, various games and quiz to test the children's memory power and knowledge were held. Nelson Sequeira, Jossy Pinto Kinnigoli, Ancy Paladka conducted these games.  Anne Mascarenhas, Hemacharya, Victor Mathias assisted in conducting the games.

Vishwa Konkani Sardar, Basti Vaman Shenoy, educationist J B Sequeira, writer Aveline Dantis, Konkani Kutam Bahrain convenor Richard Moras were the guests of honour for the valedictory ceremony.

Melvyn Rodrigues, poet and Central Sahitya Akademi awardee, in his introductory remarks said, "Though we speak Konkani in our houses and with our friends, it is unfortunate that we know very little of our own language and depend upon some major languages to communiate and many times fail to communicate properly." He further explained why it is important for everyone to learn their mother tongue.

Hemacharya, editor of Daijiworld Weekly said that Konkani vocabulary can be developed among Konkani speaking children by introducing them to village life, vegetation, trees and plantation, forest land, nature’s beauty and things around us.  The experiment will plant seeds of love for the language and culture in them, he said.

Aveline Dantis was felicitated with a shawl and memento during the occasion by Basti Vaman Shenoy. He applauaded the efforts of Daiji Dubai in bringing together these many children and inculcating in them the love for Konkani.

Both J B Sequeira and Basti Vaman Shenoy were honoured with a shawl by the organisers. Richard Moras, J B Sequeira and Aveline Dantis spoke on the occasion.

Basti Vaman Shenoy congratulated C G S Taccode by presenting a bouquet on winning the prestigious Sandesha Award for Konkani literature this year.

C G S Taccode proposed the vote of thanks. Walter Dantis and Victor Mathis compered the programme.

Vincent Pinto and Anne Mascarenhas announced the prizes.

The whole programme was held in the courtyards of Richard Rodrigues, Prakash and Stephen Mascarenhas. 

Konkani writers Ancy Paladka, Vincy Pinto Angelore, Jossy Pinto Kinnigoli, Titus Noronha, Manu Bahrain, Gladys Rego and others were present.

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