Mangalore: Konkani Jagruti Abhiyan to present 40 shows of Street Play - Bodlavann in Konkan Coast

Media Release

Mangalore, Mar 28, 2014 : Konkani Jagruti Abhiyan, mass awareness campaign on Konkani has been embarked on to encourage students from Konkani-speaking families to pursue Konkani as optional subject in schools, to extensively use Konkani in weddings and auspicious occasions and to change people’s attitude towards Konkani.  The first such show has begun at Kalaangann, Makale, Shaktinagar, here on Sunday March 16.

 
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino offered the motion for the campaign by handing over the Konkani flag on the occasion.  The shows are already presented at the parishes of Bendore, Jeppu, Milagres and during Konkani monthly theater at Kalaangann.  It will be presented at Srinivas School on Saturday March 29 and at Rosario parish after Sunday morning Holy Mass on March 30 and Valencia parish on the same evening.

 
The shows will be held from Sunday March 16 to Monday March 31 in the parishes of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts, at the leadership of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and in association with Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and Kalakul – the only Konkani theater repertory.  Forty shows of Bodlavann, Konkani street play will be presented at 40 different locations on the occasion.

 

 

Konkani in schools
 
Karnataka state government allowed studying Konkani as third optional subject beginning from Class VI.  The students study Konkani in the past 8 years in the schools and Class X students appearing for Konkani SSLC exams since the past 3 years.  The students whose mother tongue Konkani and are studying Konkani as optional subject were able to secure higher marks.  The campaign has the objective of urging the education institutions to allow teaching Konkani in the curriculum, to encourage students to study Konkani, besides Konkani-speaking families to enable their children to pursue Konkani studies.

 
Konkani in auspicious occasions
 
It has become a fashion to compere in English during weddings and other auspicious occasions among Konkani-speaking families.  The rich Konkani and its distinct culture have been sidelined in the guise of compering the programmes in English.  The campaign also aims at changing this attitude.

 
Join hands in support
 
The organizers of campaign are ready to present a half-hour street play.  In order to set the dates and time, contact: Vitori Karkal (9845209374), Lawrence D’Souza (9739789770) and Arun Raj Rodrigues (9845348558) 

 
Kalakul – theater artistes
 
The playwright Arun Raj Rodrigues, director Christopher D’Souza, music Rohan Lobo, other artistes: Melvyn Avinash Pais Allipade, Rivin Crasta Vamanjoor, Arun Tauro Bellur, Sandeep Tellis Paneer, Melcon Rego Derebail, Preetam Rodrigues Ferrer, Hyandly Coelho Omzoor, Maria D’Souza Vamanjoor, Vanessa D’Cunha Kulshekar and Nishma D’Souza Valencia.

 
Vitori Karkal (co-ordinator, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan)

Lawrence D’Souza (organizer, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy)