Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 5: 'Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Samaroh - 2015', a two-day literary festival organised by World Konkani Centre (WKC) in association with the department of Kannada and culture, government of Karnataka and the department of English, Goa University was inaugurated here at World Konkani Centre on Thursday, November 5.

The festival was formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Udaya Narayana Singh, Chair, Centre for Endangered Languages, Vishwa Bharathi, Santiniketan, West Bengal, said, "All think that their mothers are good. Everybody's mother is good, beautiful and respectable. The same way every language is good and respectable. Literature teaches us to respect. Vishwa Konkani Kendra has started this crucial work which is very important for a language. Translating from the dictionary is not enough. There needs to be equivalence.

“No language is either big or small. The writers make a language big. Dreaming big is important and only by dreaming, success can be achieved. Konkani centre giving scholarships is a noble deed. If we do not take care of our youngsters who will? We have seen people from different professions becoming good writers. Profession does not stop someone from becoming a writer. Resolving the problems of technical writing is necessary. Arabic has one of the strongest literatures in the world. Fortunately Konkani is making connection with European languages like Latin and German. We have to make connection with Arabic as well. Konkani people should be encouraged to write their experiences with innovative ideas." Narayana Singh concluded.

Dr Kiran Budkuley, dean, faculty of languages, Goa University, said, "It feels really happy to see so many writers here today. The writings by women writers are not recognized. Programmes like this are essential to make them recognized. It is a high time that young writers take over. This 2 days seminar not should be entertaining but should be thought provoking and enlightening."

Dr K Byrappa, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University in his presidential address said, "Kannadigas remember Dr Udaya Narayana Singh not only because he was the CIIL director but because his report convinced the centre to grant Kannada classical language status. Government of Karnataka in its budget allocated Rs 2 crore for Konkani study chair in Mangalore University. This is the biggest chair out of the study chairs of 17 languages at Mangalore University. Konkani is a unique language as people from different religions speak that language. It is a language of unity in diversity.

"Research and study on the language is conducted by Vishwa Konkani Kendra. I request Basti Vaman Shenoy to collaborate and guide Mangalore University in the study chair matter. I was going through the history of this language. It is 800 years old language with its people spread across the world. I find similarities of this language with Hebrew speaking Jewish people. They are also spread across the world and they are too intelligent like Konkani speaking people. I request Dr Udaya to join us in adjured programme with Mangalore University and give us guidance. I congratulate the organizers and wish all the best to this 2 day seminar." Dr K Byrappa added.

Basti Vaman Shenoy accepted the invitation by Dr K Byrappa and said "We would like to sign an MOU as we have done with Goa University."

Tanvi Bambolkar and Akshatha Bhat compered the event.

P Ramesh Pai the president of Kerala Konkani academy, B Prabhakar Prabhu the secretary of WKC and others were present.