Go Konkani! Konkani Manyatha Divas celebrated by Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy

Go Konkani! Konkani Manyatha Divas celebrated by Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy

 Mangaluru: Konkani Manyatha Divas, an event to mark the inclusion of Konkani in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution was organised on 20th August 2020. Same-day in 1992, Konkani also a state language of Goa was officially taken into consideration as one of the official national languages and since then every year the Konkani people spread across the World celebrate this day as Konkani Manyatha Divas.

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, a government body working for the betterment of Konkani language, literature and culture has been celebrating this day with grandeur in the past several years. This year due to the COVID pandemic, the event which was held at the Daivajnya Kalyana Mantapa, Urva, Mangaluri in a low key, and was live telecasted to the public through a local TV Channel.

Dr K Jagasish Pai, President, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in his welcome address explained about the evolving, growth and present situation of Konkani language while he also remembered the struggle that took the movement of getting this special respect for our language. Guest of honour, recently elected Member of Legislative Council Prathap Simha Nayak and Shantharam Siddi who are also from the Konkani speaking community were felicitated during the occasion.

Shantharam Siddi in his address said that it’s a great moment that two Konkani speaking MLC’s have been nominated by the government at the same time and we will strive hard to support the cause of Konkani at large. Prathap Simha Nayak in his message thanked the organizers for the felicitation and said that with this honour, the responsibility on us has increased and we will put all possible efforts for the betterment of our mother tongue. “The reason I have reached this level is because of the Konkani language taught by my mother and also during my political and social life, I have learnt to respect the mother tongue first. I will stand by it” he added.

Fr Pius Fidelis Pinto’s book titled ‘Kanaranth Padrovado Ani Propagandacho Vivad’ which has been chosen for the Silver Jubilee year award understudy section, Fr Pius was also felicitated during the occasion. Academy member Naveen Nayak proposed the vote of thanks, Poornima Suresh compered the programme. Members Gopalakrishna Bhat, Arun G Shet, Narashima Kamath, Canute J Pinto Kelarai and Registrar Kumar Babu Bekkeri were present. Cultural programmes from various Konkani teams followed.