Mumbai: Inter-State Konkani Youth Seminar focuses on activism to restore former glory

By Valley Quadros
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 04 Dec: The first-ever inter-state Konkani Youth Seminar involving youth from Goa and Mumbai was held at Assumption Church Hall premises at Kandivali (West) here on Sunday, December 1.

 

It was organized by Ashawadi Prakashan and Sri Mallikarjuna College - Goa, in collaboration with Assumption Konkani Songhotton Kandivali.

 

Kavithapatt - a focused study on the poems of Bab Arun Sakhardandde Goa, and Kovi Ghoshtti chaired by Shailendra Mehta, Debate with veterans Francis Fernandes Cascia and Singer Henry DSouza and the release of a Konkani CD ’Sangath’ was carried out in this Seminar.

 

Prashant Pereira, SBU Head - Emerging Business & Technologies (Manipal Technologies). Evangelist - Secure Authentication for Digital Ecosystem NASSCOM Speaker, entrepreneurs inaugurated the Seminar.

 

Actor, playwright Francis Fernandes Cascia, Henry DSouza (Sangeet Samrat), Dr Purnananda Chari (head of department of Konkani, Sri Mallikarjuna College), and Hilda Pereira (President, AKS) were present at the dais during the inaugural session.

 

Prashant Pereira in his Inaugural address, highlighted the strength of youth spirit, and said, ‘Before understanding our goals, we must understand our roots and also our strength, today we tend to confuse learning a new language means forsaking our mothertongue, which is wrong. No matter what we achieve, we must never forget the value of our mothertongue and respect it.’

 

’Sangath’ a new Konkani CD by Steven D’Souza of Malad (now in Bahrain) was released by Henry D’Souza and Dr Purnananda Chari. Thomas D’Souza was present at the stage during the release.

 

’Mumbai Darshan’ a brief synopsis of Mumbai, (How Konkani started and flourished in Mumbai and what stage it is in at present) was narrated by Valley Quadros. ‘Konkani Journalism, Konkani Music, Konkani Stage, Konkani Activism, Konkani Films all started in Mumbai, however today, we have made Konkani far behind compared to other Konkani speaking states in our country. It is due to lack of leadership, lack of visionary people and the self centric ego of persons and associations,’ he said.

 

‘Meet the artists’ a detailed debate with two veterans; Francis Fernandes Cascia and Henry DSouza was held, Valley Quadros presented a detailed introduction of them highlighting their significant contribution to Konkani Stage and Music. Dr Purnananda Chari moderated the debate, wherein the participants, mainly youth interacted with both the veteran artists.

 

 

‘Poet Arun Sakhardandde is a people’s poet, society’s poet, hence his poetry reflects the beats of common man’, ‘Kavithapatt’ a focused study on a poet and his poetry was conducted, Lynet D’Souza recited an analytical write up on Bab Arun Sakhardandde’s poems from ’Kavlleachem Shradd’ and ’Mog Kinari’. Royden Menezes briefed on the inception of Kavithapatt (Started in 2003 in Kuwait by Valley Quadros, wherein one poem from a noted poet was taken as lesson and a focussed study on that poem was being conducted. The selected review articles were published on daaiz.com and later in the form of books. Till date 5 books on poetry analysis have been published by Ashawadi Prakashan).

 

‘The Poet’s first eligibility is ’sensibility’, one cannot become a poet without being sensible towards society" said by Shailendra Mehta in his speech while chairing the poetry session. Dr Purnananda Chari, Shailendra Mehta, Sharal DSouza, Babu Velip, Dr Mithil Paldesai recited poems. Speaking about various poets and how a poetry can attract tunes, both; Dr Chari and Mehta referred poetry of Bab Chafra, Bab Arun Sakhardandde and other poets.

 

Valerian Pais, the coordinator of the Seminar proposed vote of thanks. James D’Souza and Aurelius Pereira were at the stage during the concluding session.

 

Certificates to the participants of Konkani Poetry Recital Contests held for 2019 in Mumbai were given, and also the participation certificates and prizes were being given during the concluding session.

 

Sharal D’Souza and Royden Menezes compered the Seminar.