Profile by Concepta Fernandes, AIR, Mangalore
File Photos Courtesy: H R Alva, Maria Advertisers
Udupi, Dec 13: Catherine Rodrigues' maiden book in Konkani, Sathem containing her choicest 12 Konkani short stories, out of which several have won prizes in various competitions and published by Mariads Prakashan, Mangalore will be relaesed at Sharada Vasudeva Kalabhavana, Katpadi on Sunday December 19 at 9.45 am. Sathem is the 3rd book published by Mariads Prakashan.
Albert W D’Souza, managing director of Printania Offset Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, chairman of ALDEL Education Trust (having ST. JOHN – Engineering, Management and Pharmacy Colleges in Mumbai) and chairman of Model Co-operative Bank, Mumbai will release the book.
Prominent Konkani literatteur, playwright, activist Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu (Past Governor of Lions Dist. 1A (Mother Dist. of Lionism), Chicago, USA. will preside.
About Catherine
Catherine Rodrigues, Katapadi is a multifaceted personality. She is not only a writer in Konkani, Tulu and Kannada but also involved in many other activities related to the above languages. She was the former ‘Upa-pradahana’ of Katapadi Mandala Panchayat and present vice-president of Katapadi Church Pastoral Committee.
Her Konkani writings have been published in periodicals. She won several prizes for Konkani short
stories. Even then so far she did not have a published Konkani book to her credit.
She is a richly endowed Konkani, Tulu and Kannada writer, a prominent figure in art, culture and theatre, has many published works in Tulu and Kannada.
Men and women of great merit are not born every other day. Such people are not only gifted but also a big gift to the society. Catherine Rodrigues, is such a versatile personality, and a bundle of talents, yet always keeps a low profile.
Born in Katapadi of Udupi District to John & Magdaline Rodrigues (the late), had her education in Katapadi, Pre- University course from SVS PU College, she has a Masters Degree (M.A.) in Sociology from Mysore University and is currently running Preethi Tutorials in Katapadi.
Catherine Rodrigues has been a prolific author in Konkani, Tulu & Kannada, a theatre director and social activist for over three decades. Her literary activities may be classified into 3 linguistic categories as follows.
Konkani Literary Work:
A number of her short stories, articles and poems have been published in various periodicals, magazines and special issues. Serialized Novels: ”Mon Lasthana”, “Kogul Gaythana”, “Devachem Bhurgem”, “Thulasi”, “Shimpiyenthlem Mothim”, “Aaj thaka, phalyam thuka”, Prizes:”Charuvo”, “Ek phod Dukra Maas”, “Bensam” short stories have won “Daiz short story Prize, “Sathem” short story and “Vhalo” drama have won Daiji Dubai Decennial Prize, “Saarim” short story has won Konkani Kutam, Bahrain Decennial short story award.
Catherine Rodrigues has written 12 dramas in Konkani and have been enacted on stage, each one several times. “Pauluchi Kitapat” drama has won Konkani Bhasha Mandala One Act Play Competition. Presented a short story before the invited audience at Vishwa Konkani Kendra in December 2009 in the programme organized by Sahitya Academy, New Delhi under their interactive scheme “Meet the Author”.
Tulu Language and Literature:
Several of her articles, stories and poems have been published in different books and special issues brought out on various occasions by individuals and institutions. Books:”Kedage”, “Bannal”, “Kemthur Doddanna Shetty” a pen-portrait, “Sirithuppe”- a collection of 10 dramas. Tulu Poetry:Participated in several kavisammelans. ‘Tuluvenkle Aatadakki’ is a popular poem people hum even today, poems have been published in the compilations brought out by Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and various individuals.
Catherine Rodrigues has written 40 dramas and have been enacted on stage several times. She has also directed some plays.
Prizes for Dramas
Won ‘Dharmasthala Rathnavarma Heggade Drama Competitions’ 10 times for the following Dramas. 1.Bangarda Doddi 2.Bannal 3.Kabedi 4.Kedaga 5.Karnikada Daiva 6.Satyoda Balelu 7.Thembare 8.Beerer 9.Paape 10. Arithinde ‘Kalpana Tulu Drama Award’ for ‘Jayavijaya’ and ‘Kannika’.
Other Activities
Worked from the preliminary level for First World Tulu Convention (Vishwa Tulu Sammelano 2009) held at Ujire in December 2009, compered the whole day’s preparatory programme at the zonal level covering 48 villages, presented a research paper regarding cordiality between Konkani and Tulu literature in the district
level programme held in Manipal as part of World Tulu Sammelan, participated in Kavisammelan on the main stage- only catholic to have received this opportunity to perform on the main stage in the three-day extravaganza, written an article on the subject of ‘Contribution of non-Tuluvites to Tulu Language and Literature’ for the Sammelan Commemorative Volume “Paddeyi” and written several articles that have
found print space in various books published during Tulu Sammelana.
Served as the member of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy for one term of 3 years.
Kannada Literature
Short stories, poems and articles have been published in different periodicals and books. Serialized Novels ‘Sneha bandhana’. Sneha preethi’ and ‘Chippinolagina muththu’.Presented a poem in the 71st All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Moodbidri in the segment ‘Kavi kaavya kuncha naatya’ Critics and audience have well appreciated the poem.
Translation Work
Catherine has done a commendable job of translation from Tulu to Konkani and vice versa and also from Konkani to Kannada. Except for a few authors who got their works translated into other languages many people have not given credit to her work.
To mention a few of the published translations:
1. “Naanajjer Sude Thirgaayer” is a lengthy Tulu novel by Dr. K. Mahalinga Bhat
translated into Konkani
2. “Avale Duvale”- original Konkani by J.B. Sequeira translated into to Tulu
as ‘Banji Sankada, Bend Sankada’
3. “Satham Khatham” - original Konkani by J.B. Sequeira translated into to Tulu
as ‘Sathyo mithyo’.
Apart from writing dramas in 3 different languages Catherine has directed several of her dramas and acted on stage too. She has been a very good organizer and conductor/ compere of stage programmes in different languages.
Radio Programmes:
Catherine has participated in several radio programmes at AIR Mangalore over last three decades in Konkani, Tulu and Kannada, crossing the number 100 in various formats or types. They include radio plays, short stories, poetry, talks, group discussions, interviews, etc. She has presented programmes for and along
with children and women- the special audience programmes. AIR Mangalore had Catherine as the guest of honour in their esteemed live talk show programme ‘chit chat atithi’ with the airtime of one hour in which listeners too had an opportunity to talk to her.
Socio – Cultural and Religious Activities
Catherine founded ‘Kalaavaahini’ in Katapadi a cultural organization that strived for the encouragement and popularization of art and culture and she served for seven years as the secretary. “Kalavahini’ brought forth several talents in Katapadi and surrounding areas which otherwise would have gone unnoticed.
Catherine served as Village Panchayat member for 15 years and as Upa (deputy) Pradhan of Katapadi Mandala Panchayat for a term of 5 years successfully. She is actively involved in the activities of Katapadi parish. She served as the secretary of parish pastoral parishad for 2 terms of 3 years each and as Vice President for a term of 3 years. She also served as the Editor of the Golden Jubilee Memorial
(Souvenir) Special Issue of the parish.
Honour and Felicitations
Always a low profile person that Catherine Rodrigues is, she has never gone after publicity and honours but honours have been bestowed on her. She won the Sandesha Special Award for her contributions to Tulu language, literature and theatre activities.
For her tireless and abundant service for art and culture, Tulukoota Udupi, Tulukoota Kudla, Tulukoota Bangalore, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Kannada Development Authority and many other organizations and institutions have accorded honour to her. Icing on the cake is the honour bestowed to her in November 2010 by the Katapady Konkans in Dubai and by Daiji Dubai, the Konkani Writers’ Forum in the middle-east (gulf region).
Catherine Rodrigues is a prolific author of great merit but always down to earth who does not carry any weight around her. A simple, low profile and friendly person, she has been leading a quiet life shying of publicity and attention. At least to my knowledge she has no parallel in understanding and efficiently portraying the local diverse and rich culture of various communities around us, in three languages with
ease and élan.