Mangalore: Rich Tributes paid to Konkan Kogul on his First Death Anniversary
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - FR
Mangalore, Mar 6 : The first anniversary mass and a tribute programme in memory of Konkan Kogul Wilfy Rebimbus was held at St Joseph’s Church, Jeppu today, on the occasion of his first death anniversary. Fr Baptist Menezes, Episcopal of Udupi region, offered the mass and Fr Walter D Mello delivered the sermon. Parish Priest Fr Andrew D Souza and several other priests participated in the mass. After the mass people assembled in large numbers at his grave where a tomb is built at the place of his burial. A prayer service was held at his grave.
The prayer service was followed by tribute programme held at the Centenary Hall of Jeppu Seminary in honour of Wilfyab, as he was popularly known.
It was a homage befitting the greatness of this Konkani luminary who had singlehandedly shouldered the ponderous responsibility of keeping the Konkani language and culture alive through his lyrics and songs. It goes to the credit of this humble and down- to- earth person that the songs he had created and composed became a rage in every Konkani speaking home spread across the globe and kept the pennants of Konkani flying high. There is unanimity among Konakni speaking people that the vacuum he created cannot be filled by any one else.
In an appropriate tribute to the late Konkani legend well known Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues presented the poetic side of Wilfy to the gathering by reciting the two poems written by Wilfy , which were probably written in the last few years of his life. Melvyn opined that though Wilfy has not tried his hand in poetry much unlike, the poems he wrote during the fag end of his life suggest that he might have had a premonition of his death. Melvyn also stated that Wilfy had enriched Konkani language and culture in a unique way and if anyone wanted to peep into the history of Mangalore it is suffice to glance through Wilfy’s poems which has a rich repertoire pertaining to Konkani culture, tradition, custom and heritage. He also commended the “anuprasa” present in his lyrics, which he said added beauty to the song.
In his condolence message Editor-in-Chief of daijiworld.com Walter Nandalike eulogized about the simplicity and humility of a great person like Wilfy. Walter felt that in Wilfy he had witnessed a sublime quality of gratefulness, a quality seldom found among people these days. “Wilfy was always grateful to people whoever did even very little help to him and he has bequeathed this rich legacy to his family members. He was a great man but he never exhibited any kind of superiority with anyone, even though the person he helped was an ordinary human being . He was humble and realistic. He lives in the hearts and minds of the people through his diverse songs”, Walter stated.
Walter also pointed out that though his death has left a vaccum, his children have taken up the onerous but challenging task of continuing the rich legacy of their father by continuing in his footsteps and called upon the people to extend their patronage to them.
Walter pointed out that there is every good sigh that the legacy of Wilfy will continue especially through his grandson who was born within 2 days of Wilfy’s death because there are enough indications that his grandson “Roger” resembles Wilfy not only in looks but also in some of the acts which often reminds others of Wilfy.
Expressing her feelings, late Wilfy’s daughter Veena Rebimbus recalled the days spent without their beloved daddy around after his death. She pointed out that when carrying on with life was difficult after their daddy’s death, the love and affection showered by the Konkani people on their father has helped them overcome their pain to some extent. She said her brother Vishwas and she have decided to carry on the unfinished task of Wilfy by composing tunes to some of the songs written by him. A show of these songs will be held on coming Easter Sunday at the Town Hall, Mangalore, and she sought the co-operation and encouragement of Konkani people.
Vishwas Rebimbus thanked all those who played a key role in arranging the anniversary mass and the tribute programme and sought the same kind of cooperation and encouragement from them in their future.
The family gave memento to the guests that contained the laminated photo of Wilfy and the lyrics of his song.
Well known compere , long time associate of Wilfy’s troupe, Leslie Rego compered the programme.
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