Daijiworld News Network - Dubai
Dubai, Sep 25: 'Kalaangann', Konkani's biggest cultural centre in the world, is an ambitious project embarked on by 'Mandd Sobhan' in Mangalore. It was initiated by 'Vishwa Konkani Kalaratna' Eric Ozario. Now its second phase is under way.
Eric Ozario, the 'Gurkar', along with Mandd Sobhann president Louis J Pinto, is in Dubai to promote and bring about awareness of the second phase of the prestigious Kalaangann project.
With this aim in mind 'An Evening with Us' will be held in the Indian Sports Club, Dubai at 6-30 pm on September 29, 2006. The idea is to present the achievement of Kalaangann, which will be completing 5 glorious years on December 2, 2006 and also to expedite work the second phase of Kalaangann.
Kalaangann was established on the land donated by Thomas Castelino and family of Makale, Shaktinagar, and was inaugurated by theatre and film personality - now film director also - Naseerddin Shah on December, 2001.
Unique facilities are being offered at Kalaangann, which are the finest in Konkani. Its foremost ambition is to preserve Konkani culture. Noreen and Ronald Mendonca Amphitheatre, Chafra Pratibha Shalla - a Konkani Talent and personality Development School, Leni ani Denis D`Souza ani Kutam Daiza Punzo (Museum), Austin D`Souza Prabhu Pustok Bhandar (Library), Gracy Ganga Naik Bandokar Sabhaangann and other facilities have been built as part of the first phase at a cost of about Rs 80 lac.
Despite resource crunch, Kalaangann has credit of having staged monthly theatres for 57 consecutive months. In December, it will complete 60 monthly programmes without any break on the first Sunday of every month, which is not an ordinary achievement for any Konkani organization.
A number of organizations from Mangalore, Goa and other parts of India have, by turns, to exhibit their talents through various shows at Kalaangann. Besides monthly theatres, 62 other cultural presentations, regular Konkani classes, cultural camps, workshops, seminars etc. have been successfully hosted during last five years. Moreover, Kalaangann, with all its facilities, has been made available free of charge for any Konkani meeting, activity or programme over the past year.
Eric Ozario, while speaking to daijiworld, said that the foundation stone has already been laid for the second phase. "Well-known community personalities have already assured the support. We have received some amounts good enough to get the work started. We gratefully recall the very good support we had received from the Gulf for the first phase. And now with the same hope we have stepped up our second phase." said Ozario, further speaking to Daijiworld.
"The second phase of Kalaangann includes acquisition of 15 cents of land for parking, research and documentation, and administration (main block ground floor), hostel facility (first and second floor), terrace-theatre, guest block, main gate, pavements, compounds walls, landscaping and finishing unfinished works," he added.
In essence, the entire Kalaangann is a centre of performance, study, research, documentation, experimentation, training, interaction and communal harmony. Supporters and believers of Konkani language and culture are requested to support this project in the best possible way.
On September 29, 2006 many community leaders, entrepreneurs, social activists as well as well-wishers of Kalaangann, mandd Sobhann and Konkani language and culture are expected to attend a two-hour programme, which will consist of 10 minutes video presentation, and a question-and-answer session.
Interested persons can contact and register their names at the earliest.
Contact No. 050-6547235 or 050 -5271175
To know more about Kalaangann - visit www.kalaangann.com