M’lore: Vishwa Konkani Sardar Felicitated on His Amrut Mahotsav
Pics by Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (FR)
Mangalore, Jan 17: The Amrut Mahotsav celebration programme to mark the 75th birthday of Vishwa Konkani Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy, at T V Raman Pai Convention Hall, Mangalore had all ingredients to make it an exciting event. All those who hold him in awe for the sheer energy he possesses and his passion for Konkani and for those who draw inspiration from this ever young and energetic man were present in large numbers to felicitate him on having completed 75 fruitful years of his life, majority of which have been devoted working for the promotion and preservation of Konkani language and culture.
Oscar Fernandes, Member of Parliament who was the VIP guest in the absence of Digambar Kamath and R V Deshapande, who could not make it to the event, surprised the assembled gathering by getting into a singing mode with his sonorous voice when he sang the English song “You will never grow old …..” for Basti Vaman Shenoy. The crowd went into a peel of laughter when Oscar candidly said “I usually sing this song to my wife and I hope she will not take an offence if I sing the song to Vaman Shenoy”.
Oscar Fernandes who also released the commemorative volume to mark the occasion equated Basti Vaman Shenoy to a warrior, who always fought for the welfare of Konkani language. “Konkani Society has contributed enormously for the wellbeing of the society.
We need to remember stalwarts like Karnad Sadashiva Rao who had galvanized scores of people in our district during the freedom struggle of this country. We have to remember people like Srinivasa Mallya, T A Pai, K K Pai and U S Nayak because they are part of our heritage and in this heritage Basti Vaman Shenoy’s name is also included”, he pointed out.
He further added “Konkani community has given leadership to the country in the banking sector and that is why ‘cultivating money’ has become our main occupation. Today if Dakshina Kannada has made tremendous achievements in the field of education and has succeeded in getting national and international recognition, major portion of this credit goes to the Konkani Community. Their services have helped in building this nation”. He stated that the best way to promote our language is to encourage our children to speak the language at home.
A ten minute documentary on Basti Vaman Shenoy showed the journey he had traversed culminating in the setting up of the Work Konkani Centre and now completing 75 eventful years of his life.
Basti Vaman Shenoy was felicitated by Oscar Fernandes with traditional shawl by Oscar Fernandes, with a peta by Dayananda P Pai, garland by MLA Yogesh Bhat and fruits and memento by Uday L Bembhre, eminent Konkani movement leader of Goa. B R Bhat read out the citation giving a glimpse of the achievements of Basti Vaman Shenoy.
In his welcome address, P Dayananda Pai Chairman of the Organizing Committee pointed out “it is not enough to live a longer life. How well we have led this life and what we have done for the betterment of the society is important than just leading a longer life”. He called upon the people to take pleasure in donating for the wellbeing of the society. “Give just like a rose gives its perfume because it is natural for the rose to do so”, he stated. Dayananda Pai also stated that he will put a proposal to the committee to name either the hostel or the heritage building after Basti Vaman Shenoy in recognition of his gigantic contribution for the promotion of Konkani language and literature.
M L A Yogish Bhat pointed out “though we belong to two different political parties it has not come in the way of blossoming of our personal relationship”. Recalling his association with Basti Vaman Shenoy Yogish Bhat stated that Vaman Shenoy never spoke ill about others. “He possesses positive attitude and is a complete giver. Though 75 years he has grandeur plans to organize second Vishwa Konkani Sammelan, which amply exhibits his passion for promoting this language”, he stated.
In his felicitation speech Uday Bembhre stressing on the need to preserve Konkani language stated “if diversity is the prerequisite for successful humanity then preservation of linguistic diversity is essential. Language lies in the heart of what is means to be human”. He stated that according to UNESCO in the next 100 years 3000 languages will disappear and called upon Konkani speaking community to work towards preserving our language and culture and add to the linguistic diversity of the country.
In his speech Basti Vaman Shenoy gave entire credit to God and the elders, who he said are responsible for whatever his has achieved. “But for the support and co-operation of elders, friends and well wishers I would not have been able to achieve whatever little I have been able to do in the last 75 years of my life. “You people have wished me to live for 100 years. Now I have chalked out enough plans for the next 25 years” he said amidst laughter from the assembled crowd.
The day long function was inaugurated 10 am in the morning. There was a seminar in the morning on “integration through language”, where eminent personalities participated. Seminars/discussions were also held on Inter-cultural relationship – Konkani and other languages.
There was a cultural programme soon after the felicitation programme of Konkani Folk Dance by Bhujang Siddi and Party, Yellapur and Vasu Gowda and Party and Konkani Sugam Sangeet prgramme by swarashree Kalavedike, Mangalore. Members of Organising Committee M Jagannath Shenoy, M Raghunath Shet, Mohini Dayananda Pai, Blossom Fernandes, B R Bhat were also present on the dais.
It was indeed a good show of solidarity in the interest of protecting Konkani language and culture. Once again Basti Vaman Shenoy played his cards carefully – of using the forum of his Amrut Mahotsav to dream big for the next 25 years, of working for the cause of Konkani. One has to salute his spirit and passion for Konkani.