Doha Konkani Community Extends Support to World Konkani Convention
by Gladson D'Almeida
Pics by Alex Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Oct 4: “Languages such as Sanskrit and Latin which enjoyed the royal patronage have almost embraced slow death over the centuries. Their days of glory have become history and their future remains bleak. But Konkani which never enjoyed any royal patronage has withstood the continuous onslaught of changing times and has flourished despite being the mother tongue of just over 2% of Indian population. Its very inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as one of the 21 official languages of the country, is an honour for all of us Konkani-speaking people and hence be proud to be a Konknno and take pride in speaking Konkani,” urged Eric Ozario, the Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann.
He was delivering the key-note address at a gathering of Konkani buffs from across Qatar who had gathered in Hotel Ramada to attend a session organized to brief about the upcoming First World Konkani Cultural Convention on Sunday October 3 evening.
The First World Konkani Convention, a mega 25-day-long show of Konkani culture, art, literature and identity will be held under the aegis of Mandd Sobhann from November 25 to December 19, 2010 in Mangalore.
The former illustrious president of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy speaks from his heart when the subject is Konkani. Sunday’s short session too was not an exception for this as he used the platform to exhort the Qatar-based Konkani-speaking people to make the First World Konkani Cultural Convention a successful one. His love for Konkani truly reflected in his repeated pleading to the crowd to preserve and nourish Konkani. The birth of Mandd Sobhann and its mission of promoting and preserving Konkani through various cultural and social activities was explained in gist for the benefit of the gathering. All this was aimed at garnering global support and patronage for Mandd Sobhann’s another dream project ‘First World Konkani Cultural Convetion’. Mandd Sobhann, world’s premier Konkani cultural organization has scripted several firsts in Konkani eversince it came into existence in 1986 in Mangalore and everytime it has embarked on a new mission, Eric along with the band of like-minded and committed individuals has accomplished it with élan.
However, it was entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco, another familiar face of Konkani movement who touched the hearts of the gathering in his witty yet appealing manner. Ronald Colaco has been a pillar of strength not only to Mandd Sobhann but also to any Konkani or community cause with a monk-like commitment. His ability not only to give but also inspire others to contribute that makes him so special. He elaborated on the necessity of contributing to the cause of Konkani and society and sought the support of Qatar Konkani community in handing over richness of Konkani language and culture to the next generation. The chairman of the Reception of Committee of the Convention reminded the gathering that it is not one’s achievement but contribution to the society that will be remembered even after his death. His assurance that Mandd Sobhann will make the right use of the monetary support extended to the First World Konkani Cultural Convention and that a detailed and transparent audit report will be made available to any contributor after the convention, perhaps calmed a few anxious hearts.
The evening also marked the official handing over of the ‘Vovllik’ to Qatar Konkani community for the Convention by Qatar-based entrepreneur and Konkani buff Felix Lobo. It could be recalled that an official gulf curtain-raiser for the Convention was raised in Dubai on September 24, 2010 wherein Felix Lobo, representative of Qatar had received the ‘Vovllik’ on behalf of the Konkani-speaking community. While extending the invitation to the Convention, Felix Lobo urged the fellow Konkani brethren to contribute their mite towards the Convention.
Walter Nandalike, Editor-in-chief of Daijiworld.com, Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) president Richard D’Souza, Mangalore Cultural Association president Harry Lobo, Goa Welfare Association president Simon D’Silva, representatives of Doha Goans Sports club and other Konkani enthusiasts from Qatar attended the session.
Mandd Sobhann coordinator Stany Alvares compered the programme.
World Konkani Convention : Coverage