Rajdeep Sardesai opens Vishwa Konkani Keerti Mandir

DHNS

Mangalore, 07 March 2010: It was a memorable day for the Konkani speaking people when celebrity journalist and CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai inaugurated the Vishwa Konkani Keerti Mandir (Vishwa Konkani hall of fame) at Shakthinagar on Saturday evening.

He also unveiled the portrait of his father, late Dilip Sardesai, who was a cricket player of international fame.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardesai was all praise for Konkanis and their culture and tradition. “Konkani not only bridges states, but also unites people irrespective of caste, creed and religion,” he said and added that the language gives Konkanis a sense of identity.

Terming the centre as “pride of Karnataka” (as no such centre exists anywhere including Goa and Maharashtra), he opined that the centre would help the future generation to understand the culture, tradition and artifacts.

Thanking wellknown artist Shevgoor for drawing his father’s portrait, Sardesai said the “remarkable portrait will remain in his home and heart forever.” Sardesai’s wife and CNN-IBN Senior Editor Sagarika Ghosh was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation President Basti Vaman Shenoy explained the need for constructing the centre. “The activities of the Centre will not only be focussed on the preservation of the Konkani heritage, but also on its active promotion among the Konkani people living the world over through the use of modern technology.”

On the occasion, the commissioning of Fabien B L Colaco and Alice Colaco Vishwa Konkani Bhasha Samsthan (World Institute of Konkani Langauge and Cultural Studies) was announced.

Later, Infosys Technologies Senior Vice President Ramadas Kamath U inaugurated ‘Bhandsaal’ (the ethnic Konkani shop). Foundation Chairman Dr P Dayanand Pai presided. IGP (Western Range) Gopal Hosur too was present.

The Centre comprises a Konkani heritage museum which features a wide collection of exhibits and artifacts pertaining to Konkani culture collected from various sources; Vishwa Konkani Library houses a comprehensive collection of published Konkani literature; conference hall, mini-convention hall, seminar hall, administrative block and Konkani Bhasha Samstan, a research centre.