Mangalore: Maiden Konkani award for writer

TNN

Mangalore, 11 October 2010: Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, in its endeavour to give Konkani literature its due place under the sun, on Sunday announced the setting up of the Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar. This award, that carries a cash component of Rs 1 lakh will be presented to Goa-based writer, Mahabaleshwar Sail, hailing from Majoli near Karwar in Uttara Kannada sometime next month, either in Goa or this coastal city.

 

Basti Vaman Shenoy, president of the foundation, welcoming the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Smt T Vimala and T V Rama Pai Hostel Block at World Konkani Centre Campus at Shaktinagar here, said the foundation presently is busy with various procedures relating to presenting this maiden award to Sail. "We want to give this award the same seriousness that is attached to the Jnanapith award," Vaman said.

 

The foundation is seriously toying with the idea of holding this maiden award function in Goa, which is home to many Konkani writers, he said, adding that there are slight fears that the possible dates may clash with the upcoming International Film Festival of India to be held at Goa from November 22 to December 2. In such a scenario, the function may be shifted to Mangalore to which the Goa chief minister would be invited, he noted.

 

Plans are afoot to translate the work of Sail in to other languages, bring out a booklet on his life and accomplishments, he said, adding that the prize money would be the highest ever given in any Konkani literary award. T V Mohandas Pai, director and head, Finacle, administration, human resources, Infosys Leadership Institute and Education and Research, has donated the prize money as a tribute to his mother Vimala V Pai.