President Patil at First World konkani Cultural Convention

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 10 December 2010: After her visit to Manipal, President Prathibha Patil, who arrived at the venue of Konkani Ekta Divas celebration at around 12:00 am on Thursday 09 December 2010, where she was offered a traditional ‘pan uddak’ welcome by Louis J Pinto, the President of Mandd Sobhann, the premier Konkani cultural organization. In her first visit to Mangalore, President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil urged the people to uphold the value of unity in diversity and to strive for overall progress and prosperity of the country.

 

She was speaking after honouring representatives of 25 Konkani cultural organizations from around the world including from USA, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arab, Kuwait and Pakistan to mark Konkani Ekta Day as part of ongoing First World Konkani Cultural Convention at Football Ground adjacent to Nehru Maidan here on Thursday after noon. She was accompanied by her husband Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat, Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bharadwaj, Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva, and State Minister for Higher Education V. S. Acharya from Mangalore Airport to program venue by road.

 

Glimpses of Konkani culture were presented before Patil by various Konkani cultural troupes by staging their special performance. As a mark of unity in diversity, Beary, Tulu, Kannada and Navaithi artistes too performed on the stage before the President of India. Expressing her happiness to be part of the Ekta Divas celebration and congratulating all Konkani organisations across the world, especially Mandd Sobhann, Patil appreciated the contribution of Konkani speaking people to the various sector of social life, especially towards the economic and social progress of the country.

 

 

Declaring Konkani community as peace loving people, who have rich historic, traditional and cultural background, the President urged them to continue their contribution to the overall development of the country, that contains diverse languages, religions, culture and traditions. Laying emphasis on the significance of secularism, Patil called upon the people of all the communities to forge mutual and cordial relationship between them.

 

The President was successful in her attempt to win the heart of Konkani audience by uttering a few words in Konkani at the end of her thought provoking speech. Mangalore based Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva, in her opening address in pure Konkani, called upon the Konkani people to uphold their culture and tradition throughout the world. Appreciating the unified spirit of the Konkani community, she said it is because of this spirit, Konkani language found a place in the eighth schedule of Indian constitution.

 

Dr VS Acharya, who initiated his speech in Konkani and later switched over to English, opined that the beautiful language of Konkani has been successful in binding people of various religions, castes, cultures and traditions. HR Bharadwaj stated that the society needs to follow the example of Konkani speaking people, who have brought various religions, culture and traditions under one roof through the power of their language, to create a strong unified India.

 

Ronald Colaco, the Chairman of Convention Reception Committee welcomed all the dignitaries and the gathering. Eric Ozario, Gurkarr of Mandd Sobhann proposed vote of thanks.