Speaking in your mother tongue at home is different from reading and widening your imagination
through the depths of literature. The Konkani language is now reaching children
in both Devanagari and Roman script. Founded with the aim of promoting Konkani
literature and education, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal was founded on September
30, 1962 by then President Pedru Correia Afonso.
Anwesha Singbal believes that children
should take an interest in Konkani literature and the Konkani Bhasha Mandal has
been promoting writers to take to writing especially for children. “There has
been a rise in Konkani literature for children over the past few years and
especially during the MOI agitation, Konkani Bhasha Mandal started developing
more children’s literature, which was earlier ignored. There were books that
were text heavy; but we needed books that had pictures and were more
colourful,” says Anwesha.
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Konkani Bhasha Mandal also has a team of writers who regularly
conduct workshops to create awareness about literature for children. They have
collaborated with Riyaaz Academy for Illustrators, Bhopal to create
illustrations for storybooks.
Vincy Quadros, Secretary of Dalgado Konknni Akademi, writes
children’s literature in both Devanagari and Romi scripts. A noted Konkani
literary personality, he was recently awarded Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya
Puraskar for his book, ‘Jaduche Pettul’. The story is for children with the
moral that one should live their life with good qualities. The story was
earlier written in Romi script for magazines and then written as a novel in
both Devanagari and Romi scripts. He will also release two children’s books this
year.
“I have been writing books for children mostly in Romi Konkani.
The book sales usually take place at various events and book events but whether
children are really reading books is difficult to tell. The sales of the books
are quick but it should also reflect in the children. I appreciate Anwesha
Singbal and the efforts she is putting in through the Children’s Festival-
‘Majja’ organised by Abhinav Creationz. She takes Devanagari Konkani books
right to the students in their schools and since they are studying in that
script, it is an advantage for the books,” says Vincy.
Rajshree Bandodkar Karapurkar won the Konkani Bhasha Mandal
award for her book ‘Chitkulya Chinkichye Vishal Vishwa’. She also won the
Second place for the Best Published Book in Indian Languages from
Publishing-Next and the Bal Sahitya Puraskar from Konkani Sahitya Kala Kendra
of Curchorem. She began popularising science through books and short
educational films since 2000. Her Konkani books include ‘Saimakaden Samvad
(dialogue with nature)’, a Konkani illustrative book for children; ‘Malabakaden
Samvad (dialogue with the elements in space)’, Konkani illustrative colored
book and ‘Space talks’, a book in English on space for children.
“Chitkulya Chinkichye Vishal Vishwa’ is an illustrative
colourful book in Konkani written for students to simplify the scientific
concept of water cycle. The book is written using interactive format. The main
character here is ‘Chinky’, a baby ant who is always curious to know more about
the secrets of the nature. In her life’s journey, her mother is always
protecting and guiding her to solve her problems. Their conversations vary from
philosophy of life and science to the environment. It’s a must read book for
the students and a general reader,” explains Rajshree, who is currently
teaching Physics at Ponda Education Society, Farmagudi.
Speaking
about how she attracts children to pick Konkani books for reading, she says, “I
popularise science mainly in regional languages because they understand science
better when it is explained through a story format using relevant
illustrations. I feel it’s high time that we give children some meaningful
literature and not just stories and poems. Only then, students will start
reading and liking the regional language literature.” She has six books and two
videos to her credit.
