Daijiworld News Network - Dubai

• Cash contribution to Mick Max family and Ronald Pereira, Angelore announced

Dubai, May 2: Wednesday, April 26 saw the formation of one more novel mission by the Mangalorean Konkani Community in Dubai. During a get together convened by Daiji Dubai, rich tributes were paid to the Late Michael Maxim D’Souza, universally known as Mick Max, an all rounder Konkani artiste who passed away in Mangalore recently.

M.P. Rodrigues, an eminent writer and singer himself, compared Mick Max to a beautiful flower blossomed in a thick forest or a jewel stuck to the bottom of an ocean. Further he said Mick Max strived for the betterment of Konkani literature sacrificing his own time, health, comforts and at times his family life. Further he said, “Mick Max, in his mission to enrich the values of our language lived a withdrawn and at times a frustrated life for many reasons of his own. Although now he has discontinued seeing through his own eyes, he has opened ours by donating his vision to two unknown recipients”. 

Hemacharya, the convener of ‘Daiji Dubai’ explained that the death of Mick Max has sounded an ‘Alarm Bell’ within the writers fraternity and there is an urgent need to pool together the manpower, resources and skills by forming a ‘foundation’ to reach out to the needs of hapless families of Konkani artistes. He said Mick Max slogged relentlessly for the upgradation of the level of Konkani stage and literature but did not find much time to devote towards his family. He announced the formation of ‘Daiji Foundation’ and assured that he will get back with more details about the foundation very soon.

Eric Ozario, the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Parishad, who was the guest of honour commended the efforts of Daiji Dubai and Daijiworld. He paid rich tributes to Mick Max describing him as his best comrade of 35 years. To the great delight of the audience he sang the much-acclaimed song of Mick Max, ‘Tuje Sobith Te Don Dole’. He also narrated the sorry state of Konkani language back home and explained his relentless, at times painful struggle in implementing Konkani in schools as a medium of education. He appealed to the audience to be alert and to strengthen the hands of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Parishad in its resolve to obtain the due share of our mother tongue from the government.  He also presented his plan for the second phase of Kalangann and assured the audience that the support extended to him will be whole-heartedly diverted to the cultural development of Konkani.  

Dayan D’Souza, while thanking those who supported the successful 7th Daiji Anniversary announced a sum of Rs. 25,000 to the family of Late Mick Max and Rs. 10,000 to Ronald Pereira, Angelore, a well-known novelist who requires undergo an eye surgery. 

Many prominent business leaders and the heads of local Konkani associations were present and pledged their support to ‘Daiji Foundation’.

In a press release after the get together, Hemacharya has announced that ‘Daiji Foundation’ will be an independent body at the international level comprising eminent personalities on its panel. He has further clarified that it will be supported by Daiji Dubai but not affiliated to it; While other details and framework of foundation are being worked out, an international ad hoc committee comprising the following persons of eminence has been set up:

Hemacharya –Head of Ad Hoc Committee
Dr. Austin D’Souza Prabhu – Chicago
Michael D’Souza – Dubai
Richard Moras – Bahrain
Brian Nazareth – Sultanate of Oman
Dayan D’Souza – Treasurer

According to Hemacharya, all activities of Daiji Foundation will be 100% transparent and the names of contributors and the details of disbursement of funds will be on – Daijiworld.com

For further information, please email at: hemacharya2001@yahoo.co.uk  or call Dayan at 00971-50-6547235