Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NR)
Udupi, Sep 23: The “Dr T M A Pai Best Book award” was organized by the T M A Pai Trust at Nehru Memorial Library of Manipal here, on Saturday Sept. 22
The Trust president K K Pai giving his speech, after presenting the said Award stated that there should be no issue regarding the script for Konkani language, as in his opinion Devanagari script suits Konkani language the best. Devanagari script is one of the best scripts in the country, he averred.
According to Pai Konkani being a secular language is spoken by all whether Hindus, Christians, Siddhis or Nawayats, and it is according to the principles of democracy. In Kannada the spoken language varies but the written language is same everywhere. So also for Konkani, there should be only one written language, he advised.
Konkani language should get recognition like other languages, he added. He further pointed out that the Trust has encouraged the growth of the culture and literature of the Konkani language.
The “Dr T M A Pai Best Book award-2006” was presented to N D Borkar from Goa. A cash prize of Rs 25,000, a Trophy and a Shawl was put as a mark of respect. Borkar stated that he was happy at receiving the award.
The “Dr T M A Pai Honourary award” was given to senior lecturer of Konkani department of Goa University, prof Priyadarshini Tadkodkar. She was given a cash prize of Rs 5,000, a trophy and a shawl as a mark of respect. According to Priyadarshini it is not just sufficient that a book gets published, but that book gets reviewed and researched as well. She rued the fact that there is a lack of research in the field of literature.
President of Prasar Bharati, Dr M V Kamat who gave the felicitation speech stated that once he had spoken in Konkani at a function in Delhi as he did not know Hindi, for which he was applauded by all.
Secretary of the trust, H V Kamat welcomed the gathering. Principal of DR T M A Pai Polytechnic, Lt col V F D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks. Deputy registrar of Manipal University, T Ranga Pai and editor of “Panchkadai”, Konkani newspaper Shataram Baliga introduced the award winners.