President Pratibha Patil on Thursday asked Konkani writers to highlight issues which make youth conscious about values nurtured continuously by civilization.
The task of literature is to make youth aware of their responsibility in upholding the country's rich heritage, she said.
Ms. Patil was addressing a gathering at the Vishwa Konkani Ekta Divas at the Nehru Maidan here.
Mandd Sobhan, a Konkani cultural organisation in the city, had organised the programme as part of a series of events during the 25-day First World Konkani Cultural Convention which is under way here.
The President said the colour and flavour of a language lay is in its literature. It is a platform to express ideas and thoughts, thus giving to language an emotional appeal and a moral and social standing.
“Literature has a social responsibility. It can have an inspirational influence when it highlights issues which make our youth conscious about the values nurtured continuously by our civilisation,'' she said.
Ms. Patil said that literature could be an instrument of bringing harmony to society and strengthening national unity.
“I hope that Konkani writers can contribute to the national integration process as well as to eradicate social evils, by creating awareness among people through their writings,” she said.
The President said as an enlightened community, the Konkani people were among the first to recognise the importance of education.
They set up schools and educational institutions and showed special interest in educating their family members.
A good many of these institutions were more than a century old.
She said that Konkani people who had always been peace-loving had a rich and traditional culture.
They were hard working and enterprising.
They actively participated in the freedom movement and after Independence contributed immensely to political, economic and social life of the country.
They formed one of the most diverse denominations in the country with many community identities and include Hindus, Christians and Muslims.
Yet, they were bound by the common Konkani language.
The President asked people to uphold secularism.
Governor of Uttarakhand Margaret Alva said Konkani people accommodated others by nature.
She asked Konkani people to sustain the language by speaking it. Otherwise, Konkani words would make way for English words.
Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said Konkani signifies unity through language and unity in diversity.
Minister for Higher Education V.S. Acharya said the coastal belt of the State had people speaking Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Beary and Malayalam and living together.
Oscar Fernandes, MP, was present.
Ronald Colaco, chairman, reception committee, First World Konkani Cultural Convention, welcomed the gathering.
Eric Ozario, Gurkaar, Mandd Sobhan, proposed a vote of thanks.
