‘Allegations on Mandd Sobhann by KWAA are Baseless’- Gurkar Ozario

‘Allegations on Mandd Sobhann by KWAA are Baseless’- Gurkar Ozario

“The allegations made by Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) on Mandd Sobhann are baseless and false with malicious intentions to cause damage to our image and our cause. All I have to say is that a few disgruntled fringe elements led by HM Pernal are making tall claim to represent writers and artistes and have made it their life’s mission to malign, defame and denigrate Konkani activists and also made my organization ‘Mandd Sobhann’-the latest target of their smear campaign. I do realize that it is part of the ideological battle I have been fighting in Konkani, for years now, against the imposition of one variety over others. Our oppressors seem to have found new allies in this terrorizing group. We are contemplating serious action in response – It will be made public soon”- Eric Ozario, Gurkar-Mandd Sobhann

Mangaluru: On the outset I would like to compliment and congratulate Roy Castelino – the Executive member of Mandd Sobhann, and currently the President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Louis Pinto – the current president of Mandd Sobhann, and one of the Founder and backbone of Mandd Sobhann – Gurkar Eric Ozario for their dedication, interest, commitment and sacrifice towards raising the Konkani language to greater heights through music, literature and other activities. A job well done!

Until Mandd Sobhann came on the scene, the concept of identity of Konkani as a culture or in music was never proposed, says the organization web-page. In that sense, Mandd Sobhann has triggered the opening of the floodgates of ‘Konkani-identity-consciousness’. The concept of Mandd Sobhann also came as a shock to the status-quo-loving, conservative Mangalorean Konkani Catholic Community. It also rattled the established music makers. On the other hand, Mandd Sobhann came as a welcome relief to music lovers, poetry enthusiasts and above all, it was able to build bridges between the various dialects, communities, and regions, as all Konkanis began to identify Mandd Sobhann music as their own.

One of the founders of Mandd Sobhann, Eric Ozario, the music composer and the chief proponent of this and all other experiments of Mandd Sobhann, set to tune, lyrics written by poets of different communities and regions and presented them through Mandd Sobhann. In a sense, Mandd Sobhann broke not only conventions but also community barriers. No wonder, therefore, that Mandd Sobhann (the musical performance) was presented quite a few times in the first 2 years in Goa, captured the attention of the media while at the same time inviting the wrath and ire of the conventionalists. What began as a performance titled ‘Mandd Sobhann’, grew into a movement of revival and rejuvenation of Konkani culture; and solidified into an organization called Mandd Sobhann. Today, Mandd Sobhann boasts of all these 3 identities namely – a performance, a movement, and an organization.

The net result of all these efforts of 29 years, was that dying traditions and art forms were revived and entire Konkani culture was rejuvenated. It was as if Konkani got a new lease of life. Thanks to Eric Ozario, the Gurkar now of Mandd Sobhann who has reached this organization to greater heights in promoting Konkani throughout the world. For this reason, alone, Mandd Sobhann is today identified as the custodian of Konkani culture and is credited with having extended the life span of Konkani, in the face of globalization. But like there are always a few apples in a basket, similarly there are always a few members in an organization or a community who try to defame the name of the organization through baseless and false allegations, who either are disgruntled or jealous of a person or persons who have toiled hard to raise the organization to greater heights, thereby bringing name and fame.

As reported in media, Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann-Eric Ozario is facing wrath from members belonging to Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) accusing him of a few wrong doings in the organization, and have also urged the CM to withhold the Rs 2.5 crore grant allotted to Mandd Sobhann, and also to cancel the organization registration as part of the disciplinary action, through a letter submitted through District Commissioner addressed to CM Siddaramaiah. In response to these allegations slapped on him and his organization, Eric Ozario speaking to mangalorean.com has clarified through his statements saying, “The allegations made by Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) on Mandd Sobhann are baseless and false with malicious intentions to cause damage to our image and our cause. All I have to say is that a few disgruntled fringe elements led by HM Pernal are making tall claim to represent writers and artistes and who have made it their life’s mission to malign, defame and denigrate Konkani activists and also made my organization ‘Mandd Sobhann’ – the latest target of their smear campaign.”

“I do realize that it is part of the ideological battle I have been fighting in Konkani, for years now, against the imposition of one variety over others. Our oppressors seem to have found new allies in this group. We are contemplating serious action in response – It will be made public soon” added Eric Ozario. Also speaking to mangalorean.com, Louis Pinto, the President of Mandd Sobhann said, “All these allegations made on Gurkar Eric Ozario and Mandd Sobhann are not true and baseless. Eric has been instrumental in promoting Konkani music, literature, art and culture, and he has worked hard to reach this organization to greater heights – and bringing all these false accusations against him is not right. In due time, we too will proceed with our action, thereby to retain the image of Mandd Sobhann from these Konkani activists”.

Long live Mandd Sobhann – which boasts of all these 3 identities namely – a performance, a movement and an organization.