In what is being called by many as a.blow to Konkani literature and arts, the.Goa Konkani Akademi literary awards.will not be granted this year as the state.government on Friday declared the entire.process as null and void. The reason stated.for this, contrary to popular opinion, is out.of conflict of interest among some jury.members, and not over the controversy.surrounding MLA and poet Vishnu Wagh’s.controversial book of poems ‘Sudir Sukta’..Celebrated Konkani author and poet.Damodar Mauzo says, “At least for the last.three years, no awards have been given..The Goa Konkani Akademi, as I understand,.was falling short of funds to make the.expenditure of having the award function..The government says that the awards.have been deemed null and void because.the proper procedure was not followed..And even though the government may.have been scared about the controversy,.scrapping all 32 awards is unfair to the.poets and writers of Konkani language.”.While calling it demoralising for.budding writers and artistes, Mauzo says.that the awards are a source of motivation.for upcoming literary talent. Mauzo feels.that although the Akademi is government.funded, it is an autonomous body. He.says, “Decisions are taken by the Akademi.independently. It should not be the.government’s decision whether or not to.scrap the awards. They cannot victimise all.the writers.”.Konkani Bhasha Mandal has been.one of the more active organisations.working for the Konkani movement in.the state. Chetan Acharya, President of.Konkani Bhasha Mandal, says, “Awards.are a means of encouragement for the.writers and scrapping them will have the.exact opposite effect. It won’t harm the.Konkani movement as such but it will set.a bad precedent. Personally, I don’t think.the awards given to the book will raise.the quality of the book, and similarly, a.book that does not win awards cannot be.termed as rubbish.”.While the scrapping of awards.controversy surrounding Wagh’s book has.clearly hogged all the attention, its effect.on Konkani literature and the Konkani.movement is not being spoken about as.commonly. Anwesha Singbal, founder.of Abhinav Creationz that works for the.development of regional languages.mostly among kids, but more importantly.known as the true foot soldier working.tirelessly for the development of Konkani.in Goa, says, “The entire matter pertaining.to the book in.question is far.stretched. I do.not find this.debate is any.way related.to the good.of Konkani..All the people.associated.with it are.fighting for.their own selfish motives. Whether the.book gets an award or not would not.make any constructive or destructive.effect on the language. And hence many.like us have remained disconnected from.the same because we believe we need.to constructively work for the language..Awards are just a by-product that comes.in the way, which can in no way decide.where the language is leading. This is no.Dnyaanpeeth award that is earned after.years of hardworking and perseverance..So let the awards roll, the real soldiers.of Konkani will not waste time over such.mediocre issues fought for one’s selfish.interests.”