Hans News Service Mangaluru

Theneed to elevate Konkani education to a higher plane formed the central theme of the Recognition Day programme organised at the World Konkani Centre on Thursday. Anant Agni from Goa, winner of the Dr. TMA Pai Outstanding Konkani Book Award and an established columnist, lit the ceremonial lamp to open the event.

He noted that Konkani’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution stems from its status as Goa’s official language and its independent character. Elevation of the language, he observed, can occur only through sustained development of Konkani education and literature in the states of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, and cannot be achieved by functions alone.

Members of the Mangalore Konkani Vachana Satra raised the national flag and sang the pride anthem “Godi Godi Hodi Bhas Konkani”, after which they staged the short play “Konkani Antardhvani” written by Ashok Nayak. President Nandagopal Shenoy welcomed the gathering.

Dr. Kasturi Mohan Pai, the secretary, announced that support from the World Konkani Centre has helped approximately 4,500 students learn Konkani as their third language. He called upon the students present to convince school boards and parents to introduce Konkani teaching in their own institutions.

Melvin Rodrigues, serving as Konkani adviser to the Sahitya Academy in New Delhi, reminded everyone that Konkani children should retain their mother tongue regardless of other subjects they master.

Kausalya, a student of SVT School, Karkala, who obtained full marks of 100 in Konkani at SSLC level, received a Rs. 7,000 scholarship from Usha Mohan Pai. Roughly one hundred student teams drawn from different schools presented cultural items in Konkani. Prize money went to Canara High School, Dongarakeri (Rs. 5,000 for first place), Sharada Vidyalaya, Kodialbail (Rs. 3,000 for second place) and Canara Higher Primary, Urwa (Rs. 2,000 for third place). M R Kamath conducted the proceedings. Guests included vice-presidents William D’Souza and Ramesh Nayak, trustees Kudpi Jagadeesh Shenoy, Vatika Kamath and Prashant Shet, Shivashankar Nayak, litterateur H M Pernal and many fellow Konkani supporters.

Judging duties were handled by senior artists Ramdas Gulvadi, Prakash Shenoy and Muralidhar Kamath. Treasurer B R Bhat conveyed the message of partial sponsor trustee Gokulanath Prabhu and expressed gratitude to everyone involved.