by Vijaykumar Patil
Apr.11: Bishop of Belagavi Rev.Peter Machado has observed that it was the love, dedication and practice that kept the spirit of any language or culture alive.
Stating that one should not forget one’s mother tongue and like it as his/her own mother, he urged Konkani speaking people from the region to strive and conserve the Konkani language, especially in the upper ghats region.
He was speaking at a ‘World Konkani Day’ observations organised by Uzvadd Parivaar. Organised for the first time in Belagavi, the function was held at auditorium of Hotel Sanman here on Tuesday. The day is commemorated to late Waman Raghunath Shenoi Varde Walulikar alias Shani Goembab.
“People observe and celebrate a variety of special days all over the world; however, I am amazed to see the celebration of ‘World Konkani Day’ which is being held in Belagavi for the first time,” said the Bishop lauding the efforts by Uzvadd Pariwaar in conserving the Konkani language and culture.
“Though we are Saraswats, Christains, Daivadnyas and Konkan Marathas, the Konkani speaking people from the upper ghats region comprising from Yellapur to Kolhapur have painstakingly conserved the language and culture, the legacy that needs to be carried forward till the next century,” he said.
In his presidential remarks hotelier Sudhakar Shanbhag said that though Konkani is spoken in different dialects and written in different scripts, the spirit of Konkani and love for the mother tongue had kept the language alive in the upper ghats section. Lauding the efforts of Uzvadd Pariwaar he urged that more and more Konkani’s should come forward on one platform and strengthen the Konkani language and culture.
Octagenarian entrepreneur and pioneer of hotel industry in Belagavi Vishwanath alias Baba Pai also appealed Konkani’s to unite on a single platform for the cause of language and culture.
Shaver Gonsalves, Girgol Rodrigues, Minin Gonsalves also spoke on the occasion. Prema Raikar presented Konkani devotional songs on the occasion.
Jerome Andrade, Asis Almeida, Prem Raikar, Michael Gonsalves, Capt Minin D’souza, Marshal Lobo and eminent Konkani speaking people from Belagavi were present, according to a press release.