Dakshinayan Abhiyan has brought out an anthology of selected progressive writings in Konkani,
edited by senior Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo. The book, titled, ‘Umale’, was
recently released at Ravindra Bhavan Margao at the hands of Dr K Neela. ‘Umale’
has been published by Leonard Fernandes of Under the Peepal Tree.
Before speaking about the book, Damodar Mauzo sheds light on the
sequence of events that triggered this idea. Mauzo says, “Of late, the artistes
across the fields of literature, cinema, theatre and other art forms have been
facing a threat from the fringe elements. And it was time to show our
solidarity to counter this propaganda. The idea to come out with a collection
of progressive writings by different writers across India seemed like a good
step in that direction.”
‘Umale’, edited by Damodar Mauzo, is the Konkani volume of a
bigger collection of works of literature, called, ‘Dakshinayan Indian Thoughts’
that is being edited by Dr Ganesh Devy. According to Mauzo, the concept is to
release a collection of Indian progressive thoughts via written works. The
collection consists of classic Indian literature, anthology and poems written
by authors and poets centuries ago, as well as works of contemporary writers.
For example, the Marathi volume consists of the literary works of Saint
Dnyaneshwar, as well as that of writers such as Bhalchandra Nemade. Similarly,
the Konkani volume consists of works of 51 writers, out of which, 11 are no
more. Some of the authors in this list include the likes of Shenai Goembab,
Ramesh Ghadi, Tanvi Bambolkar, Madhavi Sardesai, etc.
It
may be interesting to note that Dakshinyan Abhiyan, a movement launched by
Padma Shri Ganesh Devy – a scholar, linguist, and an activist, has been rather
active in raising its voice against fringe elements in the country,
specifically in the last couple of years. The third national convention of
Dakshinayan Abhiyan was held in Wardha and Nagpur in January 2018. The
convention, SAMAS-2018, kicked off on January 29, 2018 in Sewagram, Wardha, and
culminated in Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, the next day. Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar,
the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, and Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma
Gandhi, addressed the gathering. In the past, writers, activists, and artistes
associated with Dakshinayan Abhiyan had gathered together from various places
across the country, to remember Gauri Lankesh’s fearless journalism and the
struggles that she fought, by dedicating a session to Gauri Lankesh on January
29, her birth anniversary.
