Mangaluru, 28 Feb 2017: Roy Castelino was felicitated by Mandd Sobhann, on behalf of all Konkani organisations for his exceptional service to Konkani, during his tenure as the pPresident of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, at Kalaangann, here on Sunday, February 26.
Louis J Pinto, president – Mandd Sobhann welcomed the gathering and C G S Taccode raised the toast.
The chief guest, Albert D’Souza (businessman, educationist and community leader – Mumbai), guest of honour, Narendra Nayak (chairman of Expert Educational & Charitable Foundation and promoter of classical music) honoured Roy Castelino with a shawl, citation, flowers, fruits and the traditional ‘urmal’.
Stanley Fernandes, the founder of MCCP Oman, who had come all the way from Muscat for the programme and Prakash Shenoy of Sadhana Balaga Mangaluru, Roy Castelino’s wife Dianisia Castelino, Eric Ozario – Gurkar, Mandd Sobhann and Louis J Pinto were present on stage.
Nach Sobhann presented a felicitation dance and Sumell presented a felicitation song on the occasion.
In response to the felicitation, Roy Castelino said, ‘I have done my job as the President of the Academy. Just as I do my construction business with dedication and discipline, I have fulfilled my responsibilities in a similar manner. I have tried my best to promote Konkani during my tenure.’
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Albert D’Souza said that he was a silent observer and fan of Roy Castelino’s work. He said that the literary evening organised by the Academy in Mumbai under the leadership of Roy bab, which brought together all Konkani organisations of Mumbai, is an example of his work.
The guest of honour Narendra Nayak praised Roy Castelino for his work and said that he wished that his term as President could be extended for another term so that any other work that he wished to do in this term could be fulfilled in the next.
Representatives of various Konkani organisations and Konkani people from various regions were present for the programme and they too honoured him on the occasion. Smita Shenoy compered the programme.