There is an age old adage in Konkani, ‘Goemkarank baravorsank tera festam’. Goans, wherever they be, their culture never lags behind. Hence, when Goans migrated to Karachi or Nairobi, the tiatr and mando culture accompanied them.
Celebrating culture is a thought that dwells in every Goan or rather in every Goan nurtured by his mother tongue, Konkani. Every community of Konkani speakers have their own cultural legacy be it the Konkani Zagor, dhalo, mando tiatr, nattok or poetry presentation. Attempting to foster unity in the diversity that Konkani communities live in, a two day National Seminar with the topic ‘Unity of Konkani Communities through Art, Culture and Literature’ is being organized at the Heritage Hall of Fr Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar.
After successfully organising three International Tiatr Conventions, Michael Jude Gracias has set his eyes on building a cultural bridge connecting Goan cultural enthusiasts with their counterparts in Mangalore, Kerala, Mumbai and Sindhudurg districts, with an aim to bring in the youth to carry forward the cultural legacy unitedly. With his initiative of teaching mando to the students of St Aloysius College, Mangalore, paying dividends with the holding of a Mando Festival, in its over two centuries of existence, in the Mother Teresa Peace Park, of the college campus in March 2023, other colleges in Mangalore have evinced keen interest in the folk art form.
The National Seminar, that is jointly organised by Kala Niketan, Majorda and Fr Agnel College of Arts & Commerce in their campus, in association with the Department of Art & Culture, is set to bring the young and old on one platform, to discuss ways of fostering unity amidst the Konkani communities.
The two days National Seminar, commencing on August 19 at 3 pm and concluding at 5.30 pm on August 20 2023, is open for all with prior registrations. Aiming to bring together around 200 delegates, over 120 delegates comprising of college students and professors from Goa, Mangalore, Kerala, Maharashtra and Chandigarh, besides international delegates from USA and Kuwait have confirmed their participation.
The keynote address for the seminar will be delivered by Dr Nandakumar Kamat. Besides presentation of cultural performances, poetry and poster competitions, the seminar will deliberate on various topics after the presentation of papers by renowned academicians. Five papers will be presented that includes ‘Unity of Konkani communities through identity as ‘Konknnimonis’, by Fr Onasis D’Cruz, ‘Unity of Konkani communities through poetry’ by Stany D’Souza, Bela, ‘Unity of Konkani communities through Tiatr’ by Dr Glenis Mendonca, ‘Unity of Konkani communities through Art & Culture’ by Dr Pandurang Phaldesai and ‘Unity of Konkani communities through Literature’ by Fr Jason Pinto.
The final session will feature Anwesha Singbal, president of Konknni Bhasha Mandal, Celso Fernandes, president of Dalgado Konknni Academy and Prof Elston D’Souza, Professor of St Agnes College, Mangalore speaking on the ‘Practicality of fostering unity’. The discussion sessions will be moderated by Dr Fr Luis Gomes, Dr Purnanand Chari, Prof Ramrao Wagh and Dr Cosma Fernandes. Eminent poet Stany Bela, director of Daijiworld, Mangalore and member of the advisory committee of Sahitya Academy, New Delhi representing Kerala will grace the occasion.
Eminent personalities working in the field of art and culture and literature will be awarded and felicitated during the seminar. The Konknni Rotn award (for personalities promoting Konkani language in Goa) will be presented to Fr Manuel Gomes and Sandesh Prabhudesai. The Konknni Bhushan award (for personalities and associations promoting Konkani language in India) will be awarded to Prof Flora Castelino (Mangalore) and the Goan Outreach Association (Mumbai) and The Konknni Vibhushan award (for personalities promoting Konkani language internationally) will be conferred upon James Mendonca (USA) and Domingos Araujo (Kuwait) Tanvi Bambolkar, Vincy Quadros, Fr Myron Baretto (Goa) and Remona Evette Pereira (Mangalore) will be felicitated for their contribution to Konkani recognised at the national level.
Unity in diversity being the cry of the day, this national seminar will foster understanding and respect for all Konkani communities
