• Preserve Konkani myths , says Veluskar
• Give fair representation to Catholics in Konkani Academy: FKCA

Team Mangalorean, Mangalore/Bangalore

Kundapur, Feb 8: During the inaugural function of the 19th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan on Saturday, February 7, Poet Ramesh Bhagwant Veluskar said that the rich Konkani folklore should be preserved for future generations. He was presiding over the inaugural function of the two-day 19th Konkani Sahitya Sammelan of the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishat.

P. Dayananda Pai, a businessman, inaugurated the sammelan. He urged that it is necessary to have a single script for Konkani language.

Ravindra Bab Kelkar, whose speech was read in absentia, said that mere production of books in a language would not help in its growth.

Mr. Veluskar said that the Konkani Akademi, Art and Culture Department, Konkani Bhasha Mandal and other organisations must embark on the task of documenting the rich Konkani folklore. “The roots of our legacy, heritage and history lie in it", he said.

Rev. Fr. Alban Rodrigues, Vicar of Kundapur said that the people should speak in Konkani with their children without mixing English words or else many Konkani words will be forgotten.

Give fair representation to Catholics in Konkani Academy: FKCA

Following inadequate representation to Catholics in the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, the Federation of Konkani Catholic Association (FKCA) has urged the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to revamp Academy to set right the injustice done to Konkani Catholic and Christian community.

Charles Gomes, Chairman of the FKCA said the government had announced the list of members of the Academy on February 4. However, the association was shocked to find that out of the names of 10 members announced by the Government, only one person belonging to our Konkani Catholic and Christian community has been included.  

But, unfortunately, Konkani Catholics and Christians have been almost completely ignored.  Even though it is well-known that Konkani Catholics and Christians are in large numbers in the three coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada,  and also in Bangalore, Mysore, Chikmagalur, Shimoga and other distrcits, and their contribution to the growth of Konkani language, literature, culture, music and theatre and other fine arts,  it is regrettable that the appointment of the members does not seem to acknowledge this fact, he said.

"We take strong exception to this blatant neglect of the Konkani Catholic and Christian community in the appointment of members to the Academy" Mr. Gomes said.
 
A persual of the names of the 10 members chosen by the Government reveals that it is packed by persons belonging to only one Konkani community from the coastal region  to the utter disregard and total exclusion of Konkani Catholics and Christians despite their large numbers and greater contribution to the cause of Konkani language, literature, culture and arts.  Incidentally, a prominent Konkani leader, belonging to this community, has been nominated again despite having served as a Chairman for a term in the past, the Chairman said.
 
The FKCA said apart from the almost complete exclusion of Konkani Catholics and Christians,  another glaring omission in the nomination of members to the Academy is the absence of any representatives from districts like Bangalore, Mysore, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Belgaum etc, even Konkani speaking people have been residing in these districts since generations.  We feel strongly offended and insulted that a person belonging to Kasaragod, which belongs to Kerala, has also been nominated while Konkani speaking people from within the state and Konkani Catholics and Christians have been ignored.  It is lamentable that note that not a single woman has been nominated.

"We fail to understand the rationale or justification for this blatant discrimination," he said.
 
In view of these factors, we strongly urge the Government to take immediate steps for redressal of the injustice done to Konkani Catholcis and Christians and also to Konkani speaking people from other districts if necessary by reconstituting the Academy afresh so as to ensure fair representation to all Konkani speaking people and regions.  If the Government fails to set right the injustice immediately, the Konkani Catholics and Christians will be compelled to resort to strong public protests and also reconsider their stand in respect of the Academy.  
 
We strongly feel and demand that the Academy, funded by the Government and functioning under the control and supervision of Karnataka Government’s Department for Kannada and Culture, which is looked after by the Chief Minister himself, should represent the entire Konkani speaking population and also not just  the coastal region but even those residing in other parts of Karnataka, Charles Gomes said.