Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB) - Pics Praveen Tauro Kulshekar

•  Journalist, writer-poet Vitori Karkal co-opted as new member

Mangalore, Apr 8: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy on Saturday evening organized an exchange of views over the programmes and events conducted by it during the past year, which has been the first year of the tenure of the present managing committee.

Registrar Dr Duggappa Kajekar welcomed the gathering. Sandesha director Fr Denis D'Sa presided over the function and moderated the discussion.

Academy president Eric Ozario set the ball rolling with a briefing on the activities conducted during the past year and sought opinions and suggestions from the gathering. Matilda Pinto, Vittal Anand, Gladys Rego, Eddie Netto, Charan, Narayan Kharvi, Dr Edward Nazareth, Richie Pereira and others placed their views.

Eric responded with replies and clarifications. He also informed that no awards were announced for books because a minimum of ten entries under a category were to be received, which had not happened this time. He further said that, on an experimental basis, Konkani would be introduced as an optional subject in ten schools each in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts from the coming scholastic year. A publicity and promotion committee was formed, consisting of Dr Edward Nazareth, Eric Ozario, Louis J Pinto, Narayan Kharvi, Gopala Gowda, Vitori Karkal, Stany Alvares, Irene Rebello, Suvarna Gaad, Koodla Anand Shanbhag, Charan Kumar, Vincent Alva and Pundalik Marathe.

The president also informed of a plan to buy music albums in cassettes and CDs of value Rs 1,000. There was also a plan to organize a book sale campaign in association with other Academies.

In his concluding remarks, Fr Denis D'Sa said that the Konkani Academy had gone to the people. A lot of good work has been done during the past year. It was for the people to join hands with the Academy in its race towards progress, he added.

The very fact that a record number of 52 meets and programmes have been held between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006 by the Academy speaks highly of the dynamic leadership of the current incumbent heading the Academy, Eric Ozario and the enthusiasm of the committee members. This record might remain unbroken for quite some time, unless the present committee surpasses it during its own tenure.

Vitori Karkal Co-opted as member

Victor Mathias (Vitori Karkal), writer-poet, sub-editor of Mithr and columnist, has been co-opted as a member of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy. This was accepted at a meeting of the Academy held on April 6, 2006.

The post of a member had been lying vacant following the resignation of Mick Max, citing personal reasons, two months ago. This was announced by registrar Dr Duggappa Kajekar.