Udupi: Dr TMA Pai Foundation Awards Conferred on Eminent Konkanis

Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Mar 27: The annual Distinguished Achievement Awards to Outstanding Konkanis and the Dr. T.M.A. Pai Konkani Book Awards, given annually by Dr T M A Pai Foundation, Manipal, were presented to the awardees in a glittering function held at the auditorium of Hotel Valley View International, Manipal on Saturday, March 26, 2011. 

Veteran journalist and former Chairman of Prasar Bharati M V Kamath, former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar and  former Dean of IIT, Mumbai, Dr  Arvind Kudchadker received the awards.  The distinguished outstanding Konkani award  given to Hattiangadi Venkatraya Kamath  posthumously was received by his daughter Purnima Shenoy. 

Well known Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues was conferred with Dr T M A Pai Best Book award for his Konkani book of poetry ‘Prakriticho Paas’.  The Appreciation  Award for the book was presented to Konkani writer Gerry D Mello for his book “Do Re Me Fa” and Ramesh Laad, Goa,  for translating Kannada novel “Dhruvathare” into Konkani.  Gerald Pinto received the award on behalf of Gerry D Mello, who was not present at the award ceremony, as he is based in Canada. 

Both these  awards were conferred by the President of the Foundation T Mohandas Pai and Chancellor of Manipal University Ramdas Pai.  The outstanding Konkanis were honoured with a shawl, flowers, citation and a cash award of  Rs. One lakh.  Best book awardee Melvyn Rodrigues was honoured with shawl, flowers, citation and cash award of Rs. 25,000/-.  Lt Col Victor D Souza introduced Melvyn Rodrigues to the audience. The appreciation awardees were given a cash prize of Rs. 5000/- , a shawl, flowers  and citation.  

In his acceptance speech Prof Kudchadker emphasized the need for a drastic change in the education system of the country and also the need for a healthy mixture of humanities, social sciences and engineering to create a better society.  Prof Kudchadkar also called upon educational institutions to provide a conducive atmosphere to encourage students to learn through the process of debate and discussions, so that students can ask questions. Talking about the educational system in the country which is more than 50 years old Prof Kudchadkar  said “now that our education system is more than 50 years old we need to have a paradigm shift,  so as to enable students to unleash their potential.  This paradigm shift will help India to emerge as global leaders in the new flat world”.   

Prof Kudchadker also said that our education system should change from teacher-centric to student-centric.  Global leadership calls for an outstanding and imaginative education system. We must create a critical mass of engineers and scientists, to be the best in the new world order. 

Dr Anil Kakodkar talked about the three areas that he would concentrate his efforts namely to bridge the energy gap, focus attention of qualitative higher education and to take science to society in a manner that brings rewards to the poorest of the poor in the society.  “We must focus on the  quality of higher education and empower our human capital to maximize their contribution”, he pointed out.   

M V Kamath said “if there is one profession which teaches humility early in life it is journalism because journalists come across and deal with some of the greatest people on earth and they put you in their place”. He also said that it is his family and friends who have made him  what he is saying that our lives are dictated by some force outside our control.  “Life is one big drama and we are all given some petty roles.  That is the way I look at life”, he stated.  Purnima Shenoy  said her sister Chandrika and she are proud to be the daughters of H V Kamath who showed his penchant for work even from the hospital bed.  She thanked the foundation for conferring the award on her father posthumously. 

Poet Melvyn Rodrigues, who was conferred with the best Konkani book award said that he finds god in his poetry.  Poetry gives me that intoxicating feeling and it is therapeutic. “I don’t think Greek physician Sorenus would not have prescribed poetry for his patients way back in 2nd century if poetry did not have that vivifying energy.  Literature or poetry cannot be restricted by the chains of narrow thinking and forced limitations.  It keeps flying with the help of wings of freedom” he stated. 

Melvyn pointed out that he has experienced the power of poetry.  For some it may look foolish. “But when this kind of foolishness is recognized in the form of awards, I feel like embracing this madness for ever.  It feels great that there are institutions like TMA Foundation  which considers such activity as worthy of an award”, he pointed out. 

Ramesh G Laad said he is more like an interpreter than original thinker.  In translation 50 per cent of the credit should go to the original writer of the book.  

T Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Dr T M A Foundation welcomed the gathering.  H Shantharam compered the programme.

The TMA Pai Foundation, which is a linguistic minority trust,  was set up in 1981 in memory of late Dr TMA Pai, the founder of the international renowned Manipal Educational Complex.  The Foundation confers annual awards to outstanding Konkani speaking people for their distinguished service in different fields of human activity.