Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (VP)
Mangaluru, Feb 8: "World Konkani Center, Mangaluru will organise two events on February 10 and 11 at Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Mangaluru, on February 10 and 11 namely Vishwa Konkani Samaroh- 2024 and Vishwa Konkani Awards-2023," said Nandagopal Shenoy, president, World Konkani and Cultural Foundation at a press meet held on Thursday, February 8 at Press Club here.
He further said, "Prof Jayraj Amin, acting vice chancellor, Mangalore University, Dr P Dayananda Pai, chairman, Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, Nandagopal Shenoy, president, Pradeep G Rai, secretary, VKSSF, B R Bhat, treasurer and other trustee members will be present during the Vishwa Konkani Awards. On this day, the Vimala V Pai Sahitya Puraskar award will be conferred to Ramanand Raikar, R S Bhaskar and Dr Prakash Parinekar. The Basti Vaman Shenoy Seva Puraskar will be given to Shakuntala Ajit Bhandarkar and Joseph Crasta. The Dr P Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Puraskar will conferred to Srinivas Rao (Kasargod Chinna) and Ramesh Laad, and Dr P Dayananda Pai.
Four dramas will be staged at TV Raman Pai Hall, Kodialbail on the two days which are ‘Jagalevelo Hanumanthu’ by Kochin Kalakshetra, Goshreepur, Kochi; and ‘The Skeleton Woman’ by The Fourth Wall theatre, Goa on February 10, and ‘Aavsu Anandacho Pavus’ by Konkani Triveni Kala Sangam, Mumbai, and ‘Eklo Aneklo’ by Rangachinnari Kasargod on February 11.
On the mediapersons’ query on measures taken to preserve Konkani language and culture, Nandagopal Shenoy said, "There are 12 schools which are teaching Konkani language and Vishwa Konkani Kendra is monitoring them. We use government issued textbooks only and from 8-10 years, the number of students who opt Konkani as third language in SSLC has also significantly grown. Hence, we are now asking the same rules to be implemented on PUC students as well. The number of students taking masters in Konkani is also rising and students in degree colleges also opt for Konkani. The main problem is at PUC level and with government support, we will ensure that Konkani is added to +2 curriculum as well."
B R Bhat, Kasturi Mohan Pai, Ramesh Nayak, and Dr B Devdas Pai were present.