Photographs by: Rajesh Shetty, Team Mangalorean
Report by: Team Mangalorean

Mangalore, January 17: The world Konkani cultural centre opened here today in a glittering function.  Inaugurating the Centre the Goa Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamath said that the interstate cultural exchanges should be intensified quickly to make the cultural ties more prominent between the states that use the same language for communications and culture.

He said the state of Goa has a sentimental attachment with Karnataka particularly in matters of language and culture. This bondage should be further strengthened by inter state exchange of scholars and researchers in language and culture he called.

The centre will help Mangalore to become the true seat of Konkani art, music, culture and language. The Vishwa Konkani centre which is the brain child of Vishwa Konkani Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy who became the true leader of Konkani people for the cause of Konkani language after he organized the Vishwa Konkani Convention in Mangalore some years back.

Designed on a true Konkani village much to the likes of small hamlets of Goa the Centre is a blend of traditional and modern styling the building is a two storey structure with a basement which is meant for the Konkani museum. Like all modern Convention centres the Vishwa Konkani Centre will also have modern facilities like the Air conditioned mini convention hall, seminar halls, Research facilities, Audio visual laboratory, and documentation centre. The Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan has promoted the concept under the leadership of its chairman late K.K. Pai.

The centre will take up various activities in literature, translation, art, theatre, poetry, research and studies on Konkani heritage, documentation. The special Kaavi Kala which is a unique mural painting art of Konkani culture will be rejuvenated by some of the senior artists specially identified by the centre.
 
According to Konkani demographic historians and researchers there are various communities that speak Konkani, while the research is presently on to determine the number of castes that speak Konkani the available list includes Chitpavan Brahmins, Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, Daivadnya Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins, Marathas, Bhandaris, Kudumbis, Konkani Muslims (Coastal Maharashtra) Navayath Muslims (Bhatkal, Karnataka),Goan Catholics, Canarite Catholics, Janjira Siddis  and Yellapur Siddis.
The Vishwa Konkani Centre however has been planned to become the centre of world Konkani culture. A special gallery of special people will also be laid out.