from Vinay Pais     
for Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SM)

Kundapur, Aug 6: A one day programme was organized by Kundapur Kharvikari Vidyaranga Mitra Mandali in the Venkatramna Arcade at Girija Auditorium here recently after being awarded the state-level award for the year 2005-06, instituted by Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.

Speaking on the occasion, Eric Ozario, president of Karnataka Konkani Academy said that it was his desire that a Kharvi should manage affairs of the academy for the next five years so that the existing notion that the academy chair was the prerogative of the dominating communities like Christians and GSBs were given the chance.

Konkani is a conglomeration of communities including Kharvis whose mother tongue is Konkani. It has been found out by a recent research that there are 31 Konkani speaking groups.

The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy cannot ignore the contributions made by the Kharvi community to the Konkani language, culture and literature, he added.

Haladi Srinivas Shetty, MLA of Kundapur, presiding over the function praised the achievements made by the mandali in the last 36 years. Raviraj Kharvi, secretary, made an introductory speech. Sadananda Kharvi monitored the programme.

Earlier a grand procession was arranged carrying the trophy and the certificate award won by the Vidyaranga Mitra Mandali.