The Hindu : Karnataka News : Konkani meet to give impetus to literature

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Konkani meet to give impetus to literature

By R.S. Habbu

KARWAR, FEB. 12. The 17th Akhila Bharata Konkani Sahitya Sammelana scheduled to be held at Kumta on February 19 is expected to give a momentum to Konkani literary activities in Uttara Kannada district.

Konkani is the mother tongue of many communities in the district. It influences even Navayat languages spoken in Bhatkal.

However, Konkani writers are few in number and Konkani literature is also read only by a few people.

The Konkani Sahitya Parishad established six decades ago by the late Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag in Karwar is non-existent now. K.N. Rao, an exponent of Konkani language, who advocated the use of Devanagiri script, is no more to continue the struggle.

The efforts of the late Dinakar Desai, who was well known for composing limericks in Kannada to promote Konkani literature in the district, did not yield the desired results. Desai, whose mother tongue was Konkani, wrote a couple of books in Konkani.

Later, he concentrated on composing limericks in Kannada and was acclaimed as "Chutuka Brahma."

Mahabaleshwar Sail, noted Konkani fiction writer who will preside over the sahitya sammelana, hails from Jajali near Karwar and is settled in Goa.

Official language

Konkani is the official language of Goa. It is taught as first language in schools. Over hundred works are published in Konkani every year in the neighbouring State.

Konkani as a strong literary medium has been developed in Dakshina Kannada also. The proposed Konkani meet at Kumta assumes significances as it aims at promoting Konkani literature in Uttara Kannada district.

The meet intends to identify young talents and encourage them to pursue literary activities in Konkani. The stage built for the meet is named after Dinakar Desai whereas the main gate bears the name of the late Gowrish Kaikini, another literary giant.

The venue of the meet has been named as Madhan Manjunath Shanbhag Nagar. Chandrashekar Kambar, Kannada writer, will address the meeting.

The former Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parikkar; the Minister for Cooperation, R.V. Deshpande; the former MP Margaret Alva; Jayant Kaikini, writer; Shobhalata Asnotikar, MLC; and K.K. Pai, chairman of T.M.A. Pai Foundation, will participate in the meeting.

Over 1,500 delegates are expected to attend the meeting.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

`Dasoha Bhavan will help rural children pursue education'

Konkani meet to give impetus to literature

Killing of naxals, policemen condemned

Villagers on the streets as fire destroys houses

Officials instructed to ensure free and fair polls

Basaveshwar Bank refutes rumours of loss