Mangaluru: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy will celebrate “Konkani Manyata Divasa” ( Konkani Recognition Day) on August 20.
As Konkani is one of the most prominent languages from the Indo-Aryan culture, this day is celebrated to highlight the significance of the Konkani language being included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1992. With several personalities who sought for the development of the language, the day aims to commemorate the importance of the various Konkani dialects that are spoken within diverse groups along the coastal region of Karnataka.
In February 2020, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy celebrated their Silver Jubilee, endowing various prestigious awards in Karkala. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be celebrated in a simple manner, as per the guidelines of the government.
The programme will be telecasted live on the regional channel ‘Namma Kudla’. The programme will be conducted to highlight the rich culture and traditions of the Konkani language, with several events and ceremonies to recollect the diversity of the language.
Meanwhile, as per the regulations of the government and the permissions granted by the Minister of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Canute Jeevan Pinto from Mangaluru and Narsimha Kamath from Karkala have been appointed co-members of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.
The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy’s lockdown activities
During the lockdown that was imposed in the district, the Academy contributed free food kits to several artists, writers, and cultural ambassadors under the supervision of the Department of Kannada and Culture. The Academy even provided financial help for the distribution of the food kits.
The Academy had scheduled several events prior to the pandemic and the lockdown and it aims at moving forward with fulfilling the same. Currently, the newly constructed Konkani Bhavan in Mangaluru is awaiting to be sanctioned by the government.
