Mangaluru : Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Richard Moras-local convener said, ” Konkani Kutam-Bahrain is a voluntary forum exclusively formed for promoting Konkani language, literature and culture in the year 2000. In its endeavor to support Konkani Writers and Artists, Konkani Kutam has introduced ‘Konkani Kutam Award’ in 2002. The award consists of a citation, memento and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-. The award is conferred by analyzing and evaluating the significant contribution to the Konkani cause. This year the Executive Committee has selected Edwin J.F. D’Souza, popular writer for his immense contribution for the cause of Konkani language and literature, for this Award”.
“The award will be presented in a glittering ceremony which will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 06.30 p.m., at St Sebastian Platinum Jubilee Hall, Bendore, Mangalore. Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy President Shri Roy Castelino will be the chief guest, Rev. Fr Chethan Lobo, Editor, ‘Uzvaad’ Konkani fortnightly will be the guest of honour” added Moras.
Titus Noronha – Co-ordinator and committee members Melwyn Rodrigues, CGS Taccode, William Pais and Stany Lobo were also present during the press meet.
Edwin JF D’Souza- a brief profile :
Edwin J. F. DSouza was born in Valencia, Mangaluru in June 1948-he is a product of St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, and holds a degree in Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Konkani. His first short story in Konkani was published in the year 1964. Since then he has 33 published novels, over one hundred short-stories, columns, satires etc to his credit. Many of his short stories are translated into English, Kannada, Hindi, Kashmiri, Malayalam and Tamil. He has won twelve State, inter-state and International (from Dubai) Awards for literature; his acclaimed short story, ”A Cup of Hot Coffee” is published by (late) Mr.Khuswant Singh in his anthology, ”Our Favorite Indian Short Stories”, published by Jaico Books.
His touching short story “Chocolates” is published twice by Reader’s Digest Guide to Food, Special Collector’s Edition. Several of his short stories are published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi in their publications – Prateechi and Indian Literature. An anthology titled ‘Chocolates’, of his own translations of his Konkani short stories is published by ‘The English Titles Publications’ of Chennai.
In the month of March 2012 he was awarded the The Book Sellers’ & Publishers’ Award (BAPASI) from Chennai for his life-time contribution to a minority language. Goa Konkani Akademi published his 450-page novel “Kallem Bhangaar” (Black Gold) in Nagari script. This novel won him the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi Best Book of the year 2013 and also, Best Book of the Year 2013 from the Vimala V.Pai Vishwa Konkani Award. His trilogy “Unnya Bhavaadthace” running to 1008+ pages is published as a single volume by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2015. Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA) honored him at a glittering Ceremony in Bengaluru in 2015 which was presided over by Shri Siddaramayya, Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka.
His first anthology of 22 short-stories in Konkani (Devnagari) ‘Poinn’ (The Journey) is published jointly by Bimb Publications and Goa Konkani Akademi. He was on the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi (2008-2012) New Delhi. He has served as a Member to the Expert Committee, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, which decides on the Fellowship Awards. He is also on the Board of Studies (Konkani) Goa University. His notable translations are 13 of his own Konkani short stories into English and published as an anthology “Chocolates” by English Titles Publications, Chennai; he is also on the list of accredited Translators of Sahitya Akademi, Chennai Chapter.
Sahitya Akademi assigned him to translate Konkani biography of the renowned Poet and Dramatist late Mr.C.F.D’Costa and also to write the biography in English of late Mr.V.J.P. Saldanha. Presently he is the Executive Director of Institute of Konkani, St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru and edits “Amar Konkani,” a bi-annual research journal in Konkani.
Congratulations Sir… You rightly deserve this honour. May you be bestowed with many more….