Pics: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Aug 21: The Konkani Sangh of Milagres College celebrated Konkani ‘Manyata Divas -2018’ at college auditorium on Tuesday, August 21.
Roy Castelino, former president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, inaugurated the celebration by lighting the lamp. Fr Michael Santhumayor, principal, Milagres College presided over the programme.
In his inaugural speech, Roy Castelino said, “Konkani is our identity because it is our mother tongue. After it was included in the 8th schedule of our constitution, it officially became official language. There are 22 languages which are included in the 8th schedule of our constitution. It is a language which is mo less than these languages as well as Hindi and English,”
“We should be proud to say that we are from Konkani speaking community,” he added.
In his presidential speech, Fr Michael said, “Knowing many languages makes us more intelligent and wise. Forgetting the mother tongue and our own mother is one and the same. We do not get the feel of our soil while speaking other languages. Konkani is the language of Konkan region of three major communities. I appreciate the Konkani Sangh of our college for organizing this day.”
Prem Moras, co-ordinator of Konkani Sangh, welcomed the dignitaries and gave brief introduction about Konkani Manyata Divas.
Leslie, co-ordinator, Ashwin Fernandes and Dafny Concessao, president and secretary of Konkani Sangh respectively, were present on the dais.
After the stage programme, cultural competitions were held.