Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Feb 15: Noted Konkani litterateur and novelist Irene Pinto was conferred the Victor Rodrigues Memorial Konkani Literary Award 2016 at a ceremony held at Samanvaya conference hall, Urwa Store here on Sunday February 14.
Addressing the gathering, Fr Ronald Cutinho said, "It has been over 20 years since Samanvaya was started. This organisation has conducted many activities in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts all these years. God has been grateful and helped and protected this organisation, thus it has grown by many folds. Scholarships have been awarded to 800 students. Training in tailoring has been given to over 400 people and 40-plus machines have been given free of cost, and embroidery training has been imparted to over 90 people. Many more activities have been conducted by this organisation over the years."
Litterateur C G S Taccode introduced the awardee and said, "Irene Pinto has written many novels like 'Sthree', 'Palelili Baas', 'Thuve Negar Keloy' and many more. Her novels have been published in magazines like Mithra, Kanik and others. She has been writing from teenage years with the pen name 'Sharath'. She has been conferred Mithra award, Konkani Sahitya Award and many more. I wish her all the best."
Acknowledging the honour, Irene Pinto said, "Today on receiving this award, I am as happy as I was when my first novel was published. When I wrote my first book not many showed interest as I was very young. But I tried persistently and my novel was published. I thank everyone who has supported me in becoming a writer and I thank Victor Rodrigues family and Samanvaya for honouring me with this award."
Fr Pius Fidelis Pinto in his presidential address said, "Victor in spite of being a very good writer was not able to address the audience in programmes. We made him sit on the dais and made him talk. He passed away due to illness. His wife wanted to do something in his memory and thus this award is being given to a deserving Konkani litterateur every year. I started reading Victor Rodrigues' work because I wanted to learn writing in Konkani. Victor was a hard working and dedicated writer. He was an inspiration to me. I thank Victor Rodrigues' family for instituting this award to keep his memory alive.
"There is big confusion about the script in Konkani. There have been continuous efforts to impose Devanagari script on us. There have been books written in Kannada script. Konkani should not be restricted to any one script. Fr Ronald Cutinho and I have been conducting various activities beyond the four walls of the church in this regard. Initially this was not easy and fingers were pointed at us. We thank all of you for your support."
The third birthday of Kelista Amora Rodrigues, the granddaughter of the late Victor Rodrigues, was also celebrated.
A documentary on Victor Rodrigues was displayed on the occasion. Dolphy Lobo Casia compered the event.
Celine Rodrigues, widow of Victor Rodrigues thanked the gathering.