Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Jul 25: Konkani Kutam Bahrain has nominated noted Dubai-based Konkani poet, founder-member of Daijidubai Konkani writers forum and Daijiworld editorial board member Melvyn Rodrigues for its annual award for 2006.
This consists of cash prize of Rs 50,000, citation and memento. The award is presented to a well-known Konkani personality every year, for his/her significant contribution to the Konkani literary field.
Melvyn, besides being a prolific poet, story-writer, critic and thinker, has been doing yeoman's service to the field of Konkani poetry by running his own website www.kavitaa.com, which is immensely popular with Konkani readers. This website has also encouraged more and more Konkanis to venture into poetry-writing and has given a tremendous boost to budding poets. A large number of up-and-coming poets have found www.kavitaa.com to be an ideal plank to hone their poetic skills.
Noted journalist and author, multi-faced Dolphy Cascia had won this award for year 2005.
There is a strong belief among the Konkani poetry buffs around the world that, he is the only poet in the current era who can step into the shoes of the late C F D`Costa (Cha Fra D`Costa) in terms of content quality of his poems and unflinching love for Konkani poetry.
Following closely in the steps of Cha Fra, Melvyn had shown great maturity in his poems during early days of poetry writing. Today Melvyn has several books to his credit, viz., Bhesam Zallem Kalliz (Novelette), Moga Pello (Collection of Poetry), Kanni Zali Choli (Translation of Kannada Short Stories of Yashwant Chittala), Fintam (Collection of Poetry), Shabdulim (Collection of Articles), Vaatt (Anthology of Poems).
He has had also the honour of editing books like Kallza Gaaz (Panchu Bantwal); Vovllam (Fred Kumar Kuchikad); Kupam Pondlim Mukham (Anthology of Poetry by Konkani's 50 Poets); Chindiyache Gombe (Shabbeer Bayda).
Melvyn Rodrigues has also contributed in a great way to Konkani journalism. He was the sub editor for Mithr Konkani weekly in 1983-84 and Jivith during 1985-87 and Udev in 1988-89. 'Zage Kavi' was his brainchild and it still functions in Mangalore. It was a unique and meaningful idea on his part to have brought young and veteran Konkani poets under one umbrella and he, by his innovative steps and work, has ensured that the spirit of Konkani poetry would live on.
He also has the credit of being the co-founder of Mandd Sobhan, another unique cultural organization, at present running under the able and well-deserved leadership of Eric Ozario who is also the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.
For all his dedicated service to Konkani Melvyn has many feathers in his cap. He has been the pride and jewel of Mother Konkani, who has been recognized by poetry-lovers all over the world. Some of awards and recognition he has received are listed here:
Awards & Recognition: Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Goa (Mogapello)
Visited West Bengal on a travel grant given by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (1989)
English translations of his poems have been presented by prominent litterateur Gokuldas Prabhu during a seminar held at the University of Science & Technology, Cochin (November 2003).
Melvyn, despite his professional and family commitments, dedicates a lot of time towards editing the books of a number of up-and-coming poets and organizes poetry workshops in the UAE almost every month. This trend has now been followed in other parts of the world too.
Melvyn, a poet who brought a kind of revolution in the field of Konkani poetry, is married to Averyl - who edits daijiworld.com' recipe column. The couple has a son Gavin Joshua, living with them in Dubai.
The recent music album Dini Dini produced and composed by him, containing songs sung by singers of Bollywood fame like Sunidhi Chouhan, Vasundhara Das and others, with music directed by Alwyn Fernandes, has so far sold more than 4000 copies and and created a new genre with jazz kind of music.
Presentation:
The award will be presented at 7-00 pm on Friday, July 28, 2006 at a function to be held in the Sandesha Kalabhavan, Bajjodi, Mangalore.
Titus Noronha, Richard Moras and Victor Mathias at the press conference
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy presiden Eric Ozario will be the chief guest, while senior Konkani songwriter-artiste Wilfy Rebimbus and Sandesha director Fr Francis Lewis will be the guests of honour on the occasion.
The selection of the nominee was made by a competent panel of jury comprising of Konkani Academy president Eric Ozario, Mandd Sobhann president Louis J Pinto and Konkani writers Dr Edward Nazareth and Dolphy Cascia.
These details were announced by Konkani Kutam Bahrain's convener Richard Moras at a press conference held in the Mangalore Press Club, Mangalore on Tuesday, July 25. Titus Noronha of Rahul Advertisers and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy member Victor Mathias (Vitori Karkal) were also present on the occasion.
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