To commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of the late Fr Freddy J da Costa, the founder and former editor of the only Konkani monthly magazine ‘Gulab’, the Gulab Awards 2020 and 2021 were presented at a special function held at Ravindra Bhavan Conference Hall, Margao. The event was organized by the Konkani monthly ‘Gulab’ in collaboration with Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Felicio Cardoso-che Pattlavdar and Fr Freddy J Da Costa Memorial Trust.
The ‘Gulab Awards 2020’, which were held back due to Covid
restrictions, as well as Felicio Cardoso Journalism Awards 2020 and 2021, were
also presented to the awardees at the function.
The recipients of the 2021 Gulab Awards included Dr Jayanti Naik
who received ‘Gulab Personality of the Year Award’, Fr Eusebio Gomes SFX
received the ‘Gulab Writer of the Year Award and Anthony San Fernandes was
awarded the ‘Gulab Tiatrist of the Year Award’. The 2020 Gulab awards were
presented to Dr Carlos Femandes, former curator of Central Library (Gulab
Personality of the Year), Fr Manuel Gomes (Gulab Writer of the Year) and Wilson
Mazarello (Gulab Tiatrist of the Year). Former editor of ‘Vauraddeancho Ixtt’,
Fr Kyriel De Souza SFX and editor of Prudent Media Pramod Acharya were awarded
2021 and 2020 Felicio Cardoso Journalist of the Year Award respectively.
In her welcome
speech, Konkani Bhasha Mandal president, Anwesha Singbal listed out many tasks
towards the development of Konkani and Konkani Bhasha Mandal willingness to
produce children literature in the Roman Konkani as well. Fausto V Da Costa,
editor of ‘Gulab’, while highlighting the several difficulties faced in the
publication of the magazine, called upon the Konkani lovers to fulfil their
responsibility towards Konkani by just reading ‘Gulab’ and other publications
brought out in Konkani.
Guest of honour,
veteran journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai recalled his days with Felicio Cardoso
and Fr Freddy J Da Costa whom he revered as his gurus. “Felicio taught how
journalism should be courageous, factual, to the point, clear and full of
research,” he stated.
Prabhudesai pointed
out that the reading habit is decreasing and bemoaned that social media
platforms like WhatsApp which are spreading false news around are a great threat
to society. “The world is getting conservative instead of progressive and even
India is changing. The worm of hatred has penetrated in Goa’s peaceful
atmosphere and is trying to destroy Goa’s communal harmony. In such
circumstances magazines like ‘Gulab’ can play a vital role in guiding the
society and Gulab has been always thankfully doing precisely that,” he
reiterated.
Former Speaker of Goa
Legislative Assembly and Konkani activist, Tomazinho Cardozo, who was the chief
guest, opined that Roman Konkani along with Devanagari Konkani should be taught
in schools. He stated that if any language is to be kept alive today, it is
through the process of teaching it to the GenNext.
Referring to the
dwindling readership for the only Konkani magazine ‘Gulab’, Tomazinho said that
people are giving priority to English, instead of their mother tongue. Refuting
the definition in the Official Language Act which says Konkani means Konkani
written in the Devanagri script is the official language, he lamented that the
number of writers and readers in Roman script is dropping as it is not taught
in schools.
“We must ensure that
both the scripts, Devanagri as well as Roman script, should get equal
importance academically”, Cardozo emphasised. The chief guest as well as the guest
of honour lauded awardee Dr Carlos Fernandes for his immense and silent
contribution towards the Goa’s Central Library.
Johny
B Gud along with Reza Fernandes and Alberto Cardoso entertained the audience
with late Fr. Freddy’s memorable compositions, which included a mando. Anthony
Menezes, president of Felicio Cardoso-che Pattlavdar Trust proposed the vote of
thanks. Sonia Gomes and Brijesh Shet Desai compèred the function.