Mangalore: Poet Aruna Rao Bags ‘Mathias Kutam Kavita Puraskar - 2008’

Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)

Mangalore, Dec 10: Konkani poet Aruna Rao Kundaje bagged the ‘Mathias Kutam Kavita Puraskar – 2008’ instituted by Kavita Trust. The award consists of Rs 10,000 in cash, a citation letter, and a memento.

This award has been sponsored by Joseph Mathias Kuppepadav, Merit Freight Systems LLC, Dubai, and is conferred on a Konkani poet residing in any corner of the globe for his/her extraordinary contributions of over a decade in reaching Konkani poetry to the masses. 

Aruna bagged the award for her efforts in training young children to enact Konkani plays, and for teaching and inspiring them to write Konkani poetry.  She has authored and published Konkani literature for all ages. Her poetry for children reflects her great knowledge of children’s intelligence quotient in grasping Konkani poetry and plays. 

She has successfully incorporated many genres of poetry into Konkani. Aruna is a classical singer and music composer, who has staged many musical concerts along with her daughter Vrinda. 

Aruna Bhaskar Rao was born in 1928 and resides in Mumbai.  She also writes occasionally for Marathi bulletins. ‘Akash Mantav’ is her masterpiece poetical play while ‘Angan Kavita’, a collection of poems exclusively for children, has been published.

Kavita Trust decided to give away the award beginning this year, and received 10 nominations. The award will be conferred on Aruna Rao during ‘Kavita Fest’ scheduled to be held in January 2009 at Shantikiran, Bajjody, Nantoor. 

Award winning Konkani novelist Hema Naik will present the award, while Vivek Shanbagh, Kannada writer and editor of quarterly magazine ‘Desha – Kaala’, will be the chief guest. Goan poet Purnanandachary will moderate the five linguists’ poets’ session to be held on the occasion.