Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Stanly Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 9: Daiji Dubai’s year-long literary and cultural celebrations for its silver jubilee culminated in a spectacular award ceremony and musical extravaganza at St Sebastian Centenary Hall, Bendur, on Saturday, February 8.
The event began with heartfelt tributes to the departed souls of C J S Taccode, M P Rodrigues, Linus Kadri, and Benny Teacher, all of whom were members of Daiji Dubai. Founders including Dayan D’Souza, Walter Nandalike, Melwyn Rodrigues, and Stephan Mascarenhas digitally launched the Silver Jubilee logo. Senior member and renowned playwright Francis Fernandes Cascia then felicitated the founders of Daiji Dubai.
A highlight of the evening was the release of Kimoo, a short story collection by Stany Bela, published by Daiji Publication. The book was jointly released by the founders of Daiji Dubai, Stany Bela, and Vincent Pinto Angelore, former president of Daiji Dubai Mangaluru unit.
Daiji Dubai Mangaluru unit president Praveen Tauro, along with former convenor Stan Ageira, Ronald Nazareth, Nanu Marol, Dinesh Correa, and other members, escorted the recipient of the Daiji Dubai Literary Award, Fr Prashanth Madtha, to the stage.
Honorary guests Fr Ronald Serrao, rector of St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu, Michael D’Souza of Vision Konkani, and NRI businessman Joseph Matias honored Fr Madtha with a shawl, memento, citation, and a cheque for Rs 75,000.
Expressing his gratitude, Fr Prashanth Madtha said, “Every single drop of sweat from Daiji Dubai members and the people from Mangaluru who settled in Gulf countries has caused the blooming of roses in their motherland. Their sacrifices and sentiments have enriched their native land, which is also reflected in the literary field. Completing 25 years as an organization is no easy feat. Daiji Dubai has played a vital role in flourishing Konkani in the UAE. It has set an example by leading the Konkani community in Gulf countries. Today, they have honored me with the prestigious Daiji Dubai Literary Award, recognizing my work in Konkani, which brings new responsibilities. I accept these responsibilities and thank the entire Daiji team for honoring me.”
In his keynote address, Walter Nandalike said, “Dayan had a dream of promoting the language among the Konkani community in Gulf countries, as the majority of them used English for communication and events. Then, the four of us joined him, and steadily more writers became part of Daiji Dubai. We began organizing programs in Konkani and supporting organizations and writers in India. Our work style inspired many, and several Konkani organizations came into existence in Gulf countries. Today, we have reached a milestone of 25 years. Now, Daiji Dubai is more focused on the younger generation and their interest in Konkani. Therefore, we are including more children and young people in our events and projects. Over these 25 years, we have received support from many, and we thank them all. We won’t rest on our laurels. We will continue with our mission.”
In his thank-you speech, Dayan D’Souza, convenor of the Jubilee Year, said, “As an organization, we have conducted hundreds of activities that have benefitted our mother tongue, writers, and organizations. The execution of all activities has been a hundred percent successful. At the same time, several philanthropists and members of the Mangalorean business community have stood behind us as financial supporters. We are always grateful to them. Through their generosity, they have also become strong promoters of Konkani for future generations.”
Following the formal ceremony, the audience was treated to a two-hour musical extravaganza that set a new standard for performances. The concert, directed by Sanjay Rodrigues, featured prominent voices of the Konkani music industry, including Anil D’Sa Pangla, Shilpa Cutinha, Joshal D’Souza, Robin Sequeira, Rynel Sequeira, Jason Lobo, Melroy Furtado, Paloma Rodrigues, and Dealle D’Souza.
A special moment was the performance of a medley of Konkani golden hits by 70 children trained by Joshal D’Souza, whose energy and talent captivated the audience. The show also featured stellar performances from musicians such as Roshan Crasta Bela, Sanjeeth Rodrigues, Stalin D’Souza, and Veekshith, bringing dynamic rhythms to the stage.
The musical extravaganza was complemented by a spectacular dance performance by Urban Groove, headed by Avil D’Cruz, a coastal dance academy known for its innovative choreography.
Additionally, the talented chorus group GG100, trained by renowned vocalist Raina Sequeira, provided the perfect musical backing for the evening’s performances.
Adding to the entertainment, the talented group Memory Mangalore—featuring Richard Valencia, Cletus Urva, Sapna Vamanjoor, Rita Bendur, Melwyn D'Almeida and Ozzy Angelore—delivered humor and joy through their performances.
The event was hosted by Leslie Rego, ensuring an engaging atmosphere, while Ronald Nazareth compered the formal segment. Stany Bela directed the entire show with creativity and excellence.
The evening was a fitting conclusion to a year-long celebration of Daiji Dubai’s extraordinary contribution to the Konkani language and culture, marking a milestone in its 25-year journey.