Roy Castelino, Chairman of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy said on Thursday that the Academy would be publishing 33 more books in Konkani in the next 18 months.
He was speaking at the Konkani Manyata Diwas (Konkani Recognition Day) celebrations organised by the Academy and Celebrations Committee, here.
Mr. Castelino said already 32 books in Konkani had been published in the last 18 months. The objective of publishing these books was to encourage writers to take an interest in Konkani language and literature.
The Academy was also encouraging schools in the coastal districts to start Konkani Clubs. This would allow Konkani-speaking students to get together.
Since these clubs were expected to hold at least five programmes in a year, it would go a long way in promoting the language.
Though Konkani was being offered as an optional third language in the coastal districts, parents and children were yet to show adequate interest in taking it up, Mr. Castelino said.
Reverend Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, said that Konkani had the rare distinction of being spoken by about 40 communities crossing barriers of religion and caste. It was spoken in five states and written in five scripts.
“So long as people are speaking Konkani, it has a future. Konkani-speaking people should use Konkani in their daily conversations,” he said.
Felicitation
A total of 10 Konkani speaking people were felicitated for their contribution to different fields on the occasion.
They are: Rajendra Bhat, Louis Almeida, Fr. Chethan Lobo, Nagaraj Shet, Sadananda Bandodkar, Venkatesh Baliga, Sulatha Kamath, Arvind Nayak A., Omganesh Kamath and Sheetal Shet.
There was a special felicitation of Pangal Rabindra Nayak for his contribution for promotion of Konkani language. Mr. Castelino, too, was felicitated for his contributions.
Earlier in the day, various cultural and folk teams participated in a procession from Kalsank to Sharada Kalyana Mantapa, the venue of the function. P. Yuvaraj, president of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), along with Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, flagged off the procession.
Veronica Carnelio, Chairperson of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd., T. Rahamutulla, Taluk Panchayat member and social worker, Ramachandra Bhat, Honorary President of Celebrations Committee, Amrit Shenoy, President, Janardhan Bhandarkar, Convener, and others were present.
