Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, May 2: Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy on Saturday May 2 launched the ‘Konkani Educational Year 2015-16’ campaign at Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy premises in the city. As many as 60 Konkani speaking students from Udupi who had come on tour organised by Daiji Dubai, Mangalur unit, were present on this occasion.

Editor-in-chief of Daiworld Weekly Hemacharya, Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, Roy Castelino, Geetha Kini and others launched the campaign in a unique way by writing ‘Yeya Konkani Shikovyan’ on the board.

Addressing the gathering, Konkani Bhasha Mandal president Geetha Kini said, "Every language has to be learned, but first, you must know your mother tongue. Learn Konkani and become an artiste in Konkani language. This is a chance for everyone to learn Konkani and all must make optimum use of this opportunity."

Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy said, "Mother tongue has to be practised by the present generation and it should be passed on to the next generation as well."

Praising the students who had gathered at the Academy premises for the programme, Hemacharya said that students are the future of Konkani language.

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino said, "This Academy is here to develop and save Konkani language. Last year we organized more than 100 programmes but the response was not much. Keeping this in mind we have reserved 2015-16 year as the Konkani Educational Year. Very few people speak Konkani even though it is a national language. Only half a percent of the population of India speaks Konkani. We want to bring changes to the statistics and make it better."

Vittori Karkal compered the ceremony. Registrar Dr B Devadas Pai welcomed the gathering. Steven Quadros briefed about the ‘Konkani Educational Year 2015-16’ campaign on this occasion.

Dr Edward Nazareth, Vincent Pinto, CJS Taccode, Praveen Tauro, Lawrence D’Souza and others were also present on this occasion.