CM Siddaramaiah lays foundation for Konkani Museum at Kalaangann

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 26 Apr 2016: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah laid the foundation to Konkani’s most ambitious project – the Konkani Museum, at Kalaangann, Shaktinagar, here on April 21.

 

This world-class anthropological Konkani Museum, estimated to cost around Rs 30 crore, promoted by World’s Premier Konkani Cultural Organisation, Mandd Sobhann, will be showcasing the unique and rare, rich and diverse Konkani culture of Konkanis belonging to all regions, religions, communities and dialects, and will be the largest Konkani Museum, anywhere in the world. The Museum will be set-up on a one-acre-plot adjacent to Kalaangann here.

 

 

NRI entrepreneur Ronald Colaco presented the keynote address and explained the need for a world-class museum in Konkani. He said that Mandd Sobhann works tirelessly for the preservation, promotion and enrichment of Konkani culture, so that it can be passed on to future generations.

 

The state forests and Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai was the chief guest, unveiled the names of the founder directors and founder members carved on a marble slab. All founder directors and founder members of the Konkani Museum were honoured by CM Siddaramaiah on the same occasion.

 

CM Siddaramaiah congratulated Mandd Sobhann and assured financial assistance in the future too. Addressing Konkani as Kannada’s sister language, he expressed his gratitude to the notable contribution that Konkanis have made towards the state. He wished the Konkani Museum to be a resource that will display the cultural variety of Konkani. The Chief Minister was felicitated by Mandd Sobhann with a garland, ‘Urmal’, a shawl and a memento and all dignitaries present on stage were honoured with a shawl.

 

The cultural programme, which was held prior to the stage programme, included performances from the Kharvi Kala Mandd, Bhatkal; Nava Siddi Pangadd, Mundgod; Kudumi Kala Tandd, Swamilapadavu; Mother Theresa Brass Band, Honnavar and the Sumell choir of Mandd Sobhann.

 

Mangaluru south MLA J R Lobo presided the programme.

 

Mandd Sobhann president Louis J Pinto welcomed the gathering. Mandd Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario proposed the vote of thanks. Vitori Karkal compered the programme.

 

Karnataka health minister U T Khader, sports and youth affairs minister Abayachandra Jain, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernadnes,  Puttur  MLAShakuntala Shetty, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino, Arshad Mohtesham, Pradeep Pai, Ronald Mendonca and others were present on dais.