Media release
Mangaluru, Dec 27: Clive D’Souza, Boliye, and Avil Rasquinha were chosen for Leo Rodrigues Family Kittall Youth Award and Austin D’Souza Prabhu Family Arso Journalism Award for the year 2022. Both the awards will carry a cash component of Rs 25,000 and citation. The award will be conferred on Avil Rasquinha and Clive D’Souza on January 1, 2023 at 6 pm at a function to be held at Maria Jayanthi Mini Hall, St Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu. Ln Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu, Chicago and CA Valerian D Almeida, Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur will be presenting the awards.
Every year premier Konkani web portal kittall.com honors a youth writer with the Kittall Youth Award and Abu Dhabi-based NRI Leo Rodrigues sponsors the award for the last 10 years. Arso was launched as a fortnightly in the year 2013 by H M Pernal, now successfully running in its ninth year as a monthly magazine under the editorship of noted poet and lyricist Wilson Kateel. From this year onwards, ARSO will be honoring a senior Konkani journalist, who has contributed to the growth of Konkani journalism substantially. The award is sponsored by Ln Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu, the editor and publisher of the one and only illustrated digital Konkani Weekly published in Chicago for the past five and half years, non-stop.
About Avil Rasquinha
Konkani Monthly has announced its first Konkani Journalism Award to Avil Rasquinha, who served as an editor and publisher of Kannik fortnightly for 20 long years from 1977 to 1997.
Rasquinha started writing in Konkani at the age of 14 and became the youngest editor-publisher at the age of 20. Kannik was started in the year 1965 by CA Raymond Miranda of Konkani Sahitya Prakashana, which has the credit of publishing 100 Konkani books those days, and Andrew Mendonca working at the Army Navy Press, Mumbai. In the year 1970, Avil’s brother Harry acquired Kannik and Avil assisted him as sub-editor for two years. For a brief period of time Sirivionth and Austin D’Souza Prabhu edited and published Kannik and from 1977 to 1997. With all his hardships, Avil Rasquinha edited and published Kannik for 20 long years. Victor Alvares (Vijay), Richard Alvares (Guruji), Vincent Pinto, Kulshekar, Panchu, Bantwal, Valley Quadras, Ajekar assisted Avil as sub-editors till 1992. From 1992 to 1997 Avil managed to publish Kannik single-handedly.
Apart from publishing Kannik from his Santacruz Press, Avil has published 12 Konkani books including two of V J Pm Saldanha and eighth volume of selected songs of Wilfy Rebimbus. He has acted in Konkani, Kannada, and Tulu Dramas and is an active member of the Lions Club.
Presently he lives in Bellore with his wife Mariet D’Silva, who is a banker, and two sons, one working for an insurance company and the other practicing as a chartered accountant in Mangaluru.
About Clive D’Souza
Larry Clive D’Souza of Kutalnagar writes with the pen name Clive Souz, Boliye for the last several years. So far he has penned more than 140 poems, two short stories, and about 6 essays. He has written two plays 'Navalancho Sonsaar' and 'Sorga Raaj' and acted, directed, and staged them at Kuntalnagar. Presently he is promoting Konkani on digital platforms like YouTube by writing, lyrics and composing and producing them. So far he has posted seven singles on youtube and 4 are ready for launch. Along with singles he has also written and composed two hymns dedicated one for St Lawrence and the other for St Antony. In the year 2010, he sponsored a music CD 'Yo Moga.' Since 2011 he has been an active member of the Kuwait Canara Welfare Association( K C WA).
A graduate of Hospitality Science from the University of Mangaluru, he is married to Anitha D’Souza and the couple has a son Cleven D’Souza. Presently he is working as a chef in the Indian Ocean, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.