Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Oct 2: A collection of short stories titled Beeg ani Bigath by H M Pernal and 'Encounter', a collection of poems by Wilson Kateel, both in Konkani, were released in Orchid Gallery on Sunday, October 2.
Eminent poet Melvyn Rodrigues released the book ‘Encounter’ while president of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra Basti Vaman Shenoy released ‘Beeg Ani Bigath’.
Speaking on the occasion Melvyn Rodrigues said "It is sad to see that there are people who project them as they only hold the reigns of Konkani language movement. They use the filthy language to criticise the writers, which is painful. Wilson Kateel and HM Pernal are the two people who have the capacity to face such criticism through their writings. Hence we must support these two writers."
Basti Vaman Shenoy said "Vishwa Konkani Kendra has always been encouraging new writers. Today there is a need to teach our language and culture to the younger generation. We need to translate our books into various other languages so that we reach people of various languages and culture."
William Pais, the proprietor of Orchid Gallery, speaking about HM Pernal’s ‘Beeg Ani Bigath’ said "The stories in this book bring the then Bombay live. Every story has its moral and a decision. Every sentence in it is a different story altogether.”
Speaking about Wilson's new book William said "Every time Wilson comes with a manuscript the flavour of the land is being reflected in it. With rich vocabulary, he has made the Konkani literature truly rich. With every new creation of writing, he proves himself to be a poet of new taste."
Melvyn Rodrigues was also honoured by the Evershine Publishers for having bagged the Vimala V Pai memorial literary award recently.
HM Pernal welcomed the gathering while Wilson Kateel rendered vote of thanks.
Alwyn Danthy compered the programme.
The two books are the first publications of Kittall Prakashan, which also runs the online Konkani literary portal Kittall.com and the Konkani magazine ‘Arso’.