National seminar on Konkani communities kicks off; James Mendonca, Dubai, conferred with ‘The Konknni Vibhushan Puroskar’

Majorda,Goa: They came with an aim in mind. They traveled from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh to meet their own from Goa. When the curtains rose, ushering in the guests to the traditional beats of the ghumott with the Konkani melody fiddled on the violin to the rhythmic beats of the guitar, the First National Seminar jointly hosted by Kala Niketan Goa, Majorda, and Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar, began with a clarion call for unity amidst the Konkani populace through the medium of art and culture.

The National Seminar began with traditional prayer song and dance that featured a fusion of Goan communities. The song composed by Michael Gracias from Goa, was sung by the students of St Aloysius College Mangalore with a dance in the Bharatnatyam style.

The Inaugural session conferred the Konkani awards on the eminent Konkani personalities working in the field of Konkani in the state, outside Goa, and in countries far away from our land. The Konknni Rotn Puroskar was conferred upon Rev. Fr Manuel Pascoal Gomes and Sandesh Prabhudesai. The Konkani Bhushan Puroskar was presented to Prof. Flora Castelino from Mangalore and the Goan Outreach Association Mumbai. The Konknni Vibhushan Puroskar was conferred upon James Mendonca from Dubai and Domingos Araujo from Kuwait.

In his address as the Chief Guest, Digambar Kamat, former Goa Chief Minister, expressed the need of preserving and promoting our mother tongue and said that it is only our mother tongue, Konkani, that can give us the identity of a Goan.

He lauded the efforts of Kala Niketan Goa in taking the Goan culture beyond the shores of Goa by teaching the Manglorean Konkani community, the authentic Goan Mando and for joining hands with Fr Agnel College to bring together the Konkani youth from Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chandigarh, and Kerela. He also assured them of his help and support in their future endeavours.

The day ended with the recitation of Konkani poems by the students from various colleges and the guests.

_{(Report credit: The Goan, Photos: Privy D Souza, St Agnes College.)}