Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy to Celebrate ‘Konkani Manyata Divasa’ on 20 August
Mangaluru: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy will celebrate ‘Konkani Manyata Divasa’ ( Konkani Recognition Day) on August 20th, 2020, as announced by Dr K Jagadish Pai, the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, during a press meet held at Hotel Woodlands, Mangaluru. Being one of the most prominent languages from the Indo-Aryan Culture, ‘Konkani Manyata Divasa’ is celebrated with the significance of the Konkani language being included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, in 1992. With several personalities who sought for the development of the language, the day marks for commemorating the importance of Konkani languages that are spoken within diverse groups along with Coastal Karnataka.
In February 2020, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy celebrated their Silver Jubilee Celebrations, endowing various prestigious awards, in Karkala. Given the situation of COVID-19, the program would be celebrated in a simple manner, as per the guidelines of the government. The program would be telecasted live on the regional local channel. Due to the lockdown that was imposed in the district, the academy has also contributed free food kits to several artists, writers, and cultural ambassadors under the supervision of the Department of Kannada and Culture. The academy has provided financial help for the distribution of the food kits. With several events scheduled prior to the pandemic, the Academy aims at moving forward with fulfilling their dreams planned before the lockdown was imposed. Currently, the newly constructed Konkani Bhavan in Mangaluru is awaiting to be sanctioned by the government.
According to the regulations of the government and the permission given by the Minister of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Canute Jeevan Pinto, Mangaluru and Narsimha Kamath, Karkala are the two appointed co-members of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy. Canute J. Pinto is the Director of Spearhead Group, who takes care of business development and Administration of the Spearhead Group. Earlier, while serving in the Gulf, Canute was the Secretary and member of Konkani Cultural Organisation, Abu Dhabi. An active Rotarian too, he is Editor of Rotary District special magazine ‘Hosa Chiguru’.With excellent HR and networking skills, Canute has built an excellent rapport with Konkani writers, organizations and supporters. He has profound and wide-ranging experience of 15 years in print and web media and worked in India and abroad. Canute loves the Konkani Language and its culture! He is thespian, compere and event manager par excellence too.
The program will be conducted to highlight the rich culture and traditions of the Konkani language, with several events and ceremonies to recollect the diversity of the language. The programme will be held at Devajanya Kalayana Mantapa, Ashoknagar, Mangaluru at 6 pm, with guests namely- District Minister-in-charge Kota Srinivas Poojari, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, among many others gracing the event. Pratapsimha Nayak and Shanthram Siddi will be felicitated on the occasion.
