Mangaluru: I am happy to be part of making history; former Lioness governor Kripa Alva

Pics By Stany Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, Nov 13, 2014: Marking the Konkani First Children’s day as the special children’s day wherein the children are celebrating the splendour of their mother tongue as its a milestone event and indeed a great opportunity given by the Konkani Sahitya academy to be part of this historical event and I am thankful to them, said former Lioness Club International (LCI) governor Kripa Alva.

 

Kripa was the chief guest speaking during Konkani Children’s Day celebrations organized by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy at Lions Seva Mandir here on Wednesday November 12 afternoon.

 

Kripa further said, ‘In India we parents due to the westernization have been cultivating English atmosphere in our household. We have taught them to say Mummy and Daddy instead of teaching them to converse in our respective mother tongues.

 

 

In other countries like Japan and Germany people are patriotic towards their country and mother tongue, hence they converse in their mother tongue even though they know the foreign languages. We should inculcate the love for our language, our rich culture and world famous heritage and love for our country in our children,’ said Kripa.

 

Addressing children in particular, Kripa said, ‘Don’t be greedy. Learn humane values. This will make you a good human being,’ said Kripa.

 

Kripa distributed the prizes to the winners of Konkani talent contest held for lower primary and higher primary students on the same occasion.

 

Fr Francis Rodrigues, the editor of Raknno – Mangalore diocesan Konkani Weekly and Kajulo – Konkani children’s magazine was honoured for his work towards Konkani children’s literature.

 

Fr Francis said, ‘Modernization has snatched the childhood of children. They are burdened with heavy school that has affected their free thinking, while stress on curriculum has not let children spend time for them.’

 

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino in this welcome address explained the importance of the Konkani. ‘Konkani is the only language which is the mother tongue of people of 3 religions and written in 5 scripts, we should be proud of ourselves. Since Konkani is a national language we should not hesitate to speak in Konkani in our household,’ said Roy.

 

Mangalore diocesan ICYM president Melrida Rodrigues released Bhangaraso Keer – Konkani children’s story book authored by J F D’Souza Attavar. Lions Club president C P Dinesh released Jaadooso Dhola – Konkani book translated by Gowri Mallya on the same occasion.

 

The Academy registrar Dr Devdas Pai proposed the vote of thanks. Eric Soans Barkoor compered the programme.

 

St Ann’s School - Kelarai bagged the first prize and St Aloysius Gonzaga School Mangaluru bagged the second prize in Konkani talent contest held here on Wednesday morning.

 

Sacred Heart School, Madantyar bagged the first prize and Morning Star School, Bajpe bagged second prize in the higher primary section.

 

Twenty schools from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts participated in Konkani talent contest.