Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 2: Noted Konkani activist Basti Vaman Madhav Shenoy popularly known as Vishwa Konkani Sardar and the founder of World Konkani Centre in Shaktinagar, passed away on Sunday January 2. He was 87.

Family sources informed that Shenoy’s health was deteriorating due to age related illness for the last couple of months.

Shenoy was involved with the Konkani Bhasha Mandal since 1980. He was made the organising secretary of the Konkani Jatha movement for organising people to demand establishment of Konkani Academy. In 1993, he became the president of Konkani Bhasha Mandal Karnataka. Because of his efforts in 1994-95, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy came into existence.

Shenoy organized First World Konkani Convention in Mangaluru in 1995. The 7-day convention had seminars, cultural presentations, and exhibition and was a grand success. He was honoured with the title of ‘Vishwa Konkani Sardar’ (World Leader of Konkani). The convention gave a mandate to establish World Konkani Centre in Mangaluru, for the preservation and promotion of Konkani language, art and culture.

In 1996, First North American Konkani Convention was held at New Jersey, USA. In 1997 Shenoy became the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and served for two terms till 2001. He initiated efforts to introduce Konkani in the Schools of Karnataka as the optional third Language.

In 2002, he organised the 20th Adhiveshan of All India Konkani Parishad in Mangaluru. In 2004, he became the president of All India Konkani Parishad. In 2008, under the banner of KLCF, Shenoy initiated Vishwa Konkani Abhiyan aimed at creating opportunity of interaction between Konkani Writers and Scholars with their counterparts in other languages of the country. Scholars from Panjabi, Hindi, Persian, Urdu, Kannada and Konkani Languages participated in the seminar ‘Integration Through Languages’.

In 2009, World Konkani Centre at Shaktinagar, Mangaluru was inaugurated. It consists of a library, a museum and convention facilities such as board room, seminar hall and auditorium. In 2010, Vishwa Konkani Bhasha Samsthan (World Institute of Konkani Language) and World Konkani Hall of Fame were inaugurated at World Konkani Centre.

Shenoy's mortal remains will be kept at World Konkani Centre, Shaktinagar for public to pay homage between 9 am to 10 am on January 3. He will be cremated at his birthplace Bantwal at 12 pm.