Girish Karnard to inaugrate Konkani Literary conference

Bernard J. D’Costa
Media Release

Margoa, 18 Feb 2013; The stage is all set for the  21st All India Konkani Literary Conference  being organised from 15th to 17th this month at Bolantur Krishna Prabhu  Nagar (Ravindra Bhavan) in Margao.  The  Conference will be inaugurated by  the eminent playwright, actor, director and Jnanpeeth award winner  Girish Karnad.  Shri R.S. Bhaskar, noted Konkani poet of Kochi will preside over the Sammelan.  Shri. Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Goa will be the Chief Guest  and  Shri  Pundalik Naik, noted Konkani playwright and President of the Goa Konkani Akademi will be  the Guest of Honour at the Inaugural Function on 15th February. Shri  Victor Rangel, noted Goan writer in English will  be the Chief Guest at the Valedictory Function on 17th Febru1ry. 

 

Girish Karnad, the Inaugurator Born in a Konkani speaking family on May 19, 1938, in Mathern, Maharastra, Girish Karnad is one of the brightest stars of Indian drama and cinema.  After taking his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Karnataka University, Dharwar, in 1958, Karnad went to England and studied at Oxford where he earned a Rhodes Scholarship and went on to receive the Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He had earlier dreamt of writing poetry in English and achieving international fame but it was  his  marvellous  literary output in Kannada, his adopted language,  that enabled him to realise his cherished dream.

His first play, Yayaati (1961), which chronicled the adventures of mythical characters from the Mahaabhaarata, was an instant success and was immediately translated and staged in several other Indian languages. Three years later came Tughlaq (1964), a compelling allegory on the Nehruvian era, which was performed by the National School of Drama and  established Karnad as one of the most promising playwrights in the country. He soon quit his post at the Oxford University Press and  focussed his energies on writing plays. Among the top-notch plays that flowed from his pen are Hayavadana, Naagamandala, Bali, Odakalu Bimba, Anjumallige, Tippuvina Kanasugalu,  Agni mathu Male and Taledanda  which won wide acclaim.  His  autobiography, Aadaadthaa Aayushya which was published recently, has got rave reviews in the literary circles.

He has also forayed into  Indian movie, working alternately as an actor, director and screenplay writer.   Vamsha Vriksha and Samskaara  in Kannada and Utsav in Hindi are some of the notable films directed by him.

The awards and accolades won by Girish  Karnad include the Mysore State Award for Yayaathi (1962), the Government of Mysore Rajyotsava Award (1970), Presidents Gold Medal for the Best Indian film for Samskaara (1970), the Homi Bhabha Fellowship for creative work in folk theatre (1970-72), the Sangeet Natak Academy (Delhi) Award for playwriting (1972), the Kamaladevi Award of the Bharatiya Natya Sangh for the Best Indian play of the year for Hayavadana (1972), the National Award for Excellence in Direction for Vamsha Vriksha (shared with B.V. Karanth - 1972), the Mysore State Award for the Best Kannada film and the Best Direction for Vamsha Vriksha (1972), the Presidents Silver Medal for the Second Best Indian film for Kaadu (1974), the Padma Shri Award (1974), the National Award for the Best Kannada film for Ondanondu Kaaladalli (1978), the National Award for the Best Script for Bhumika (shared with Shyam Benegal and Satyadev Dubey - 1978), the Film Fare Award for the Best Script for Godhuli (shared with B.V. Karanth - 1978), the Best Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for the Best Actor in Swami (1978), the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award (1984), the Nandikar, Calcutta, Award for Playwriting (1989), the Golden Lotus for the Best Non-Feature Film for Kanaka Purandara (1989), the National Award for the Best Non-Feature Film on Social Issues for The Lamp in the Niche (1990), "Writer of the Year" Award from Granthaloka Journal of the Book Trade for Taledanda (1990), Karnataka State Award for the Best Supporting Actor in Santa Shishunala Shareef (1991), the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for the Most Creative Work for Naagamandala (1992), the B.H. Sridhar Award for Taledanda (1992), the Padma Bhushan Award (1992), the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for Best Play for Taledanda (1992), the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India Award (1992), the National Award for the Best Film on Environmental Conservation for Cheluvi (1993), a Special Honour Award from the Karnataka Sahitya Academy (1994), the Sahitya Akademi (Delhi) Award for Taledanda (1994), Gubbi Veeranna Award (1996-97), Kalidas Samman (1998) and the Jnanpith Award (1999).

 
The Karnatak University, Dharwad honoured  him with D.Litt  degree in 1994 and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles  bestowed the honorary doctorate on him in 2011.

He has served as Director of the Film and Television Institute of India (1974-75), President of the Karnataka Nataka Academy (1976-78), Indian Co-Chairman for the Joint Media Committee of the Indo-U.S. sub-Commission on Education and Culture (1984-93), Visiting Professor and Fulbright Scholar in Residence at the University of Chicago (1987-88), and Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy of Performing Arts (1988-93).

Programme of the Conference

The programme of the  forthcoming Konkani Literary Conference includes  two seminars, three panel discussions and two poetry sessions.  While one  session  (‘Writer’s Expression : Freedom and Limits’ to be chaired by Shri Melvyn Rodrigues, Mangalore) will  focus  on an issue which is of great contemporary interest, another session, which will be chaired by Shri Damodar Mauzo  will  deliberate on ‘Translation of Konkani Literature’.  Three other sessions will discuss the Konkani Drama (Chairperson : Dr. Prakash Vazrikar), Reflection of Social Change in Konkani Literature (Chairperson : Shri Sandesh Prabhudesai) and Creative Process of Writing (Chairperson : Dr. Kiran Budkuley). The Poetry Sessions will be presided over by Shri Ramesh Velluskar and Smt. Gwadalup Dias.  Eminent writers, poets and other resource persons from Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra will be taking part in the seminars and panel discussions.   There will also be cultural programme on 15th and   16th in which  Goans as well as troups from Karataka and Kerala will be participating. 

 

 
About 200 delegates from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and about 800 delegates fro Goa are expected to participate in the three day event.   While the venue of the conference  is named after Bolantur Krishna Prabhu, the pioneer of modern Konkani drama,  the stage in the main Pai Tiastrist Auditorium  is named after the late Shaba Kudtarkar, the promising young Konkani playwright, actor and activist who died when he was in his thirties.

All arrangements have been made for the accommodation and local transport of the delegates and resource persons for the Conference.  

(Issued by  Arvind Bhatikar,  President of the All India Konkani Parishad )