Udupi : Kavita Fest 2010 - It's Victory for Konkani Poetry at Barkur
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Pics by Wilson Kayyar
Udupi, Barkur, Jan 11: “Poetry, the heart of the language, can open our eyes, make us sensitive to issues around us, connect us to people, make us more humane and bring us close to reality. In today’s depraved society only poetry offers us a ray of hope and can save us from any eventuality. Poetry is human possibility”, opined eminent Kannada littérateur and lyricist Jayant Kaikini. He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the Kavita Fest 2010 held at Moodhadu Kudru, Barkur, amidst the pristine and rustic charm of Barkur.
The courtyard of Richard D Souza, on the banks of the Sita River thee was a festive atmosphere akin to that of a marriage house as the traditional mantap complete with stage, gave such a feeling as one entered the courtyard. The milieu of the river overlooking the courtyard surrounded by a vast expanse of coconut trees from all sides was just apt for the occasion, to recite poetry and for listeners to just soak in its impact. The connoisseurs of poetry could not have asked for a more idyllic setting to get lost in the new world created by the poet by his clever disposition of words and situations. What mattered most was the active participation of the people of all ages in the poetry festival in large numbers who also displayed the same energy levels till the end.
Such an ideal setting and also the enthusiasm of the people must have certainly provided an impetus to the poet in Jayant Kaikini who equated poetry to the honey collected by the bees and said “just like the nectar collected by human beings does not turn into honey information will not become poetry unless it becomes an integral part of our body and we should evolve with it. Poetry should be the only religion known to mankind. We lose poetry if we go on searching for ideological reasons for everything we do. When we become humanized then poetry leads us to create”.
Lamenting the present condition of the society Kaikini stated that 25 years ago ours was a country of corrupt youth and now ours is a country of corrupt parents as the same corrupt youth have now become parents. He pointed out that there are two types of writers namely those who want to be a part of literary history and those who want to be part of human history. “I would like to be a writer who can be a related to people, who write human history”.
Giving an example of noted Kannada poet D R Bendre, Kaikini pointed out that Bendre used poetry to deal with the utter misfortunes of his life and to get strength at the crucial stage of his life when he was saddled with personal tragedy of worst kind. “Poetry is what happens to the writer when he writes. One is a poet only when he writes and it is not anything that can be preconceived to be written at any other time”, he asserted. Praising the organizers and the connoisseurs of poetry who had assembled in vast number Kaikini stated that credit should go to Kavita Trust for attracting people to Kavita Fest. “It is a victory to poetry”, he asserted.
Anant Amembal, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, pointed out that the glow on the faces of the people assembled at the Kavita Fest 2010. “Poetry is awakening and sometimes even silence communicates”. Giving an example of making poetry as part of the curriculum to MBBS students in the 1940’s in England he said “A holistic treatment is possible through poetry which necessitated learning poetry by would-be doctors”. He also emphasized that language is not a barrier to understand the essence of poetry. “Sometimes we take language for granted which acts as an impediment in understanding poetry. Poetry is awakening. It can touch the innermost feelings of people”, he pointed out.
Joseph Mathias, who was also the guest of honour and sponsor of the Mathias Family Poetry Award 2009, said that the future of Konkani is in the hands of youngsters who need to use the language in their day to day life to carry forward the torch of the language.
Melvyn Rodrigues, president of Kavita Trust in his introductory speech said that the Trust has been working for the promotion of Konkani poetry in the right earnestness. “We are giving a befitting reply to those who always write obituary of Konkani”, he stated.
The entire day was filled with activities related to poetry. The morning session of the programmme was inaugurated by educationist and Administrator of Manipal Academy of General Education H Shantharam and Hemacharya, editor, Daijiworld Weekly, in the presence of office bearers of Kavita Trust, The Expresions and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, who had jointly organized the programme. Inaugurating the Kavita Fest 2010 H Shantharam credited Roman Catholics for the development of Konkani language and bringing it to the present status it enjoys. “Konkani language is saved because Roman Catholics used it in the churches in the prayers and other activities”, he stated. He further added that the combination of literature, culture and poetry leads to the development of the society and lauded the efforts of Kavita Trust in providing a new impetus to the promotion of Konkani through Kavita Fest.
Kishoo Barkur, secretary of Kavita Trust welcomed the guests. Folk dance by Babanna Naik and Group, Kebikere, Yadtadi soon after the inauguration set the mood for the much serious symposium on “Why I write poetry”. Speakers H M Pernal and Prakash Parienkar provided their inputs on the topic and Andrew L D Cunha moderated the symposium. It led to a vibrant discussion on questions ranging from poetry being a language of heart, whether the poet is born or made, and poet a social reformer etc. Both the speakers provided enough food for thought before pre-lunch session.
Post-lunch session began with the much awaited youth poetry session with 16 youngsters mostly from Mangalore and Goa presenting their poems on a range of topics which showed that these youngsters hold the future of Konkani. The youth poetry session has been a revelation as many promising poets in the making showed glimpses of their talent to write poetry. Poet Lloyd Rego (Elyer Taccode) presided over the youth poetry session.
Another keenly anticipated event of the day was the stage programme as the assembled crowd was waiting eagerly to listen to the celebrity poet Jayant Kaikini, who did not fail to live up to the expectations of the people. He released Antony Barkur’s Anthology of poems “Kat Tutcho vel” and also presented the Mathias Family Poetry Award 2009 to Leo D Souza. Flavia Mathias gave away the late Charles and Theresa Rodrigues Memoral awards to winners of All India Children’s poetry competition to Pradnya Kamath, Kavita Fondekar and Punita Naik, all from Goa.
The multi-lingual poetry session was presided by Hanumant Chopdekar had poets in Konkani, Tulu, Kannada and Byari languages presenting their poems much to the delight of the assembled audience who savored them with rapt attention and expressed their happiness with thunderous applause.
At the end of the day, music by the members of The Expressions entertained the audience with some foot taping Konkani songs to signal the end of the day long event. Eric Soans, Barkuer, was the Master of Ceremony of the entire programme.
The programme which began at 10 in the morning came to an end only at 8 pm. But the assembled gathering never exhibited any fatigue or boredom. Instead there was a glow of satisfaction on their faces. The credit certainly goes to Kavita Trust and other organizers who toiled hard for days together. Credit also goes to the host Richard D Souza and family who had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Kavita Fest.