Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said that the Government was prepared to initiate steps to promote Konkani language.
He was speaking after presenting various awards of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy for 2009 to recipients here on Sunday.
Honorary awards were given to V.V. Shenoy, Valerian D'Souza (Valli Vagg) and Richard Castelino for their contributions to Konkani language, literature and art/films respectively. Cyril J. Sequeira and M.P. Rodrigues received the annual book awards for their works “Sullsulle” and “Rumdi Phulan” respectively. Special awards were given to Felix A. D'Souza for his short story “Panyar Vichleli Motiyan” and Gopala Kharvi for his achievements in swimming.
Dr. Acharya said that the people of Konkani community had excelled in all fields, including banking and literature. The first “Rashtrakavi” of Kannada literature, Manjeshwar Govinda Pai, was from a Konkani family. It was given to him by the then Government of Madras Presidency.
There was harmony among the people speaking different languages such as Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and Beary in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The Government was ready to take suggestions from scholars and writers to promote Konkani language. “If languages are not transmitted to younger generations, they will slowly become extinct,” Dr. Acharya said.
Member of the academy Harish P. Shenoy welcomed the gathering. President of the academy Kundapur Narayana Kharvi presided over the function.
MLA Raghupati Bhat, president of the Udupi City Municipal Council Herga Dinakar Shetty and Honorary Director of Manipal Institute of Communication M.V. Kamath were among those present.
