Media Release

Mangalore, Sep 16: Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation in association with All India Konkani Parishad will organise a two day national seminar on Konkani Ramayana at World Konkani Centre in Mangalore on October 2 and 3.

Union minister of law Dr M Veerappa Moily, who has to his credit Ramayana Mahaanveshanam, a epic poetry in Kannada has consented to inaugurate the seminar on October 2, 2010 at 10.00 am. Adv Uday Bembhre, an eminent konkani scholar will deliver a keynote address.

Dr Mattur Krishnamoorthy, director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Indologist will be the chief guest at the valedictory function on October 3 at 4.00 pm.

In Konkani, Ramayana narration is found in both verse and prose. The story has been told in full or part in folk songs of the Kudubis and  ritualistic forms like Godde Ramayana of Kochi, Sita Suddi and Sita Kalyan of Northern Kerala/South Canara and the Ramayan Ranmale of Cancon. Some other texts of Ramayana too are available in written form in Konkani. Ramayanachyo Kannyo, ascribed to Krishnadas Shama is in 16th century prose. During 1930s the late Kamalammal wrote the Raghuramayana in Ovi style verse. There have also been an adapted version by the late Narahari Vittal Prabhu of Gokarn and recently, the translation of Ramacharitmanas by  K Ananta Bhat of Kochi.

The Objectives of the Conference will be to deliberate on the folkloristic, linguistic and literary aspects of Ramayana in Konkani in comparative terms, to identify and document/publish folk form/s of Ramayana which have not yet been recorded and to publish the seminar papers in a book form for future reference and further studies. 

Konkani academicians and scholars in the field of linguistics, literature and folklore from Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala will present their papers in this seminar. There will also be performances by individuals and groups, experienced in traditional and ritualistic narrations of Ramayana Tales in Konkani.