By Vitori Karkala (GA) - pics - Shriraj Studio Sirsi

Karwar, Mar 30: "Konkani is our mother tongue.  We should not have any inhibition to speak and work for Konkani.  It is a great feeling to know that Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has been doing yeoman's service to promote Konkani.  I must congratulate academy president Eric Ozario for the interest and selfless work that he has been putting in to promote our mother tongue.  Ever since he has taken up the mantle of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, there has been a robust effort to promote Konkani culture, traditions etc through a number of programmes in different parts of the state as well as country and even abroad," said Fr Paul Sequeira, parish priest of St Anthony Church, Sirsi.

He was speaking during the "Mhan Monis Ek Mulakhat" programme organized by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy at St Anthony Community Hall, Sirsi on Sunday March 26 evening.

Dr V S Sonde, president of the Uttara Kannada district Konkani Parishat and Fr Reginald Pinto, parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Sampakhand were honoured on the occasion by R G Raikar, member of the Fine Arts Academy and Fr Paul Sequeira respectively.

Eric Ozario, president, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy presided over the function.  Speaking on the occasion he promised necessary cooperation from the academy towards building a Konkani bhavan at Sirsi.

Duggappa Kajekar, registrar of the academy welcomed the gathering while local convener Koodla Anand Shanbhog proposed the vote of thanks.  Rashmi Shet compered the programme.

A Konkani poetry session was held after the formal felicitation programme.  The poetry session was moderated by noted Konkani writer and activist Vitori Karkala. 

Noted Konkani poets Udaykant Anvekar, R G Raikar, Ramchandra Sirsi, R M Shet, Sirsi, Gladys Rego, Wilson Kateel, Naveen Pereira Suratkal, Tarnath Nayak, Udupi, Nandu Suvarnagadh Honnavar, Llyod Austine Rego (Elier Taccode) and Vitori Karkala presented their poems on the occasion.