by Vitori Karkala - Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore

Chikamagalur, Aug 22: The dark clouds of globalization are surrounding the entire globe while the demon called westernization has been killing the identity of one's culture.  Excessive love for English has been proving very much dangerous to the existence of regional languages.  Death of a particular language is also the death of a culture and one's identity.  Perhaps some youth from Chikamagalur diocese have understood this danger before it engulfs their culture and heritage.

The diocese has 34 parishes spread across Hassan and Chikamagalur districts.  Most of them are of Mangalorean origin who had gone there several years ago for work and settled later.  But of recent even Keralites and Tamilians too have found shelter in the picturesque ambience of these districts.  As per the local culture and traditions, most of the people were using Kannada and Konkani in their houses and even for liturgical services.  However, recently a new trend has been found in which Konkani has been facing threat for its existence. 

However, Konkani has been on a roll in the neighbouring Mangalore diocese for sometime now.  Eversince Eric Ozario and his new team took over the reins of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, various programmes have been organized, workshops held, seminars called in Mangalore.  This perhaps has its deep impact on some youth in  Chikamagalur district too.

A delegation led by Chikamagalur diocese ICYM president Jossie Lobo of Balehonnur came to Mangalore.  During their visit they met leaders of Konkani academy, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and Konkani Yuva Awaz and had lengthy talks with them.  At the end of their visit, they decided to call a meeting of Konkani buffs at Balehonnur which will be attended by a few leaders from Mangalore.

Accordingly Eric Ozario and Vitori Karkala from Konkani academy, Stany Alvares and Denis D'Silva of Prachar Sanchalan and Santhosh D'Costa and Arun Ajekar from Yuva Awaz reached Balehonnur on Saturday August 12.  The meeting was held in the Balehonnur church and was attended by Konkani buffs from Koove, Magundi, Koppa, Jaypura, Kadoor, Kadabinire, Basrikatte, Bankal, Hassan and Balehonnur.

The meeting revealed that the people in Chikamagalur have love towards Konkani but owing to some concrete reasons have been finding it difficult to promote and uphold Konkani.  Accordingly it was decided to hold a Konkani convention in Balehonnur in which various problems and hurdles faced by Konkani in the diocese will be discussed and some concrete steps will be taken to solve them.

As decided the convention will be held on Sunday September 17. A committee was set up to prepare for the convention.  The office-bearers of the committee are:
Convener: Jossie Lobo, Balehonnur
Co-convener: Ronald Pereira, Koove
Secretary: Lawrence D'Souza, Chikamagalur (Lawrenth ChickManalure)
Joint-secretary: Praveen Mendonca, Hassan
Treasurer: Helad Pais, Magundi.

Fr Aloysius D'Souza, OFM.Cap too was present at the meeting.