St Aloysius University holds national conference on ‘Digital Touch to Konkani’
Mangaluru: St Aloysius Deemed to be University organized a one-day national conference on ‘Digital Touch to Konkani’in association with Konkani Adhyayana Peeta, Mangalore University, on January 30, 2024, in Robert Sequeira Hall, LCRI Block.
Dr Jayaraj Amin, Hon’ble Vice-chancellor of Mangalore University, was the chief guest. Ms Sonia Crasta, a renowned Konkani writer, was the Guest of Honour. Rev. Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, SJ, Rector of St Aloysius Institution, presided over the programme. Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, Vice Chancellor in-charge, Dr Alwyn D’Sa, Registrar & Controller of Examinations; Dr Jayavantha Nayak, Co-ordinator, Konkani Adhyayana Peeta, Mangalore University; Ms Flora Castelino, Head, Department of Konkani; Ms Saritha Crasta & Rishal Noronha, Staff Coordinators; and Melcon DSouza & Joshua Sequeira, Secretaries of Konkani Sangha, were on the dais.
Dr Jayavantha Nayak welcomed the gathering and gave the introductory remarks.
Rector Rev. Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, in his presidential remarks, spoke on the importance of one’s mother tongue. He elaborated on the dialects of the Konkani language. There were quite a number of stalwarts who have contributed their legacies of writing in Konkani. We have to preserve these works in digital format for future reference. He said that the management of St Aloysius Institutions always supports such need-based endeavours.
Chief Guest, Dr Jayaraj Amin, spoke in his address on the importance of digitalizing the works of the litterateurs for future reference. He said that the digital touch of any language will help people come together and strengthen their ability to connect globally.
During the programme, the book comprising three dramas by the late Cha.Fra. D’Costa, translated from Konkani to English by Dr Sylvia Rego, Professor, Dept. of English, was released.
There were two sessions during the programme. Dr Tariq Khan, Lecturer-cum-Junior Research Officer, CIIL Mysore, spoke on ‘Linguistics as a Knowledge Laboratory’. Mr Royal Praveen DSouza, Department of Computer Science, St Aloysius Deemed to be University, spoke on ‘Advances in Machine Translation’.
Ms Severine Pinto, Staff Coordinator, Konkani Sangha, compered the programme.
The Valedictory programme was held in the evening at 3.30 p.m. Mr Roy Castelino, former president of the Konkani Sahitya Academy Advisory Committee, was the chief guest. Dr Alwy D’Sa, Registrar, St Aloysius Deemed to be University, presided over the programme.
