Media Release

Mangaluru, May 15: H M Pernal, Konkani critic and editor of kittall.com and publisher of 'Arso' Konkani fortnightly from Mangaluru, and Stany Bela, short story writer, poet and production director of Konkani television shows were nominated to the language advisory board of Konkani Sahitya Akademi, National Academy of Letters, government of India for a period of five years from 2023 to 2027.

While H M Pernal represents the state of Karnataka along with Srividya M R from Bengaluru, Stany Bela represents the state of Kerala along with young and promising writer Namratha P Kini from Alappuzha district, Kerala.

While Zilu Laxman Gaonkar, Anju Sakhardande and Shashikant Krishna Punaji represent the state of Goa and Lawrence D'Souza represents the state of Maharashtra.

Dr Purnananda Chari, assistant professor at Shree Mallikarjun & Shri Chetan Manju Desai College, Canacona - Goa and Sahitya Akademi awardee and founder of Kavita Trust (R) Sri Melvyn Rodrigues are the general council members of the Sahitya Akademi.

Poet Melvyn Rodrigues was elected as the convenor of Konkani language in the general council meeting held in New Delhi on March 11 this year. He will be leading Konkani language in Sahitya Akademi, National Academy of Letters for a period of 5 years.

The first language advisory board meeting of Konkani language advisory board was held in Sahitya Akademi regional office board room in Mumbai on May 12. Dr K Sreenivasarao, secretary, Dr Om Prakash Nagar, office in-charge and programme officer Mumbai regional office were present in the meeting.