Elias Bardeskar is being felicitated by Alphie Monteiro, Peter D’Souza, Vincent Dias, Angelo Menezes and others. Photo: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
The picturesque campus of the famed De Nobili College campus in Pune became even more vibrant with the presence of the Goenkars, Konkani language and its people on October 11.
The campus witnessed an important gathering in the history of the Konkani-speaking community of Goan origin settled in Pune.
The Pune Konkani Kristha Sabha (PKKS), which has a large membership of Goan settlers across Pune and is slated to celebrate the silver jubilee of its establishment in January 2027, elected its new committee.
At a meeting of the PKKS’s executive committee, retired railway officer, social worker, and community leader, Elias Bardeskar (Govia), the Gaoncar of Aldona communidade, was unanimously elected as the fifth president of the society.
The meeting also unanimously elected three vice-presidents of Goan origin to represent different regions: John Fernandes for the Nagar Road division, Albert Bardeskar for the Pune City division, and Custodio D’Souza for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) division.
During the meeting, outgoing president Vincent Dias announced the name of the new president. All 20 members of the newly constituted committee unanimously supported Elias Bardeskar’s candidature. Including the president, the new committee comprises 21 members.
Addressing the gathering after his election, the newly elected president, Elias Bardeskar, pledged to work sincerely and selflessly for the overall development of the community, with particular emphasis on the poor, the needy and the younger generation.
He expressed his gratitude to all former presidents, founders and office-bearers of the society for their contributions and guidance.
Vincent Dias, Adv Bastu Rege, Peter D’Souza and other dignitaries congratulated the newly elected president and offered their valuable suggestions and guidance while emphasising the importance of conserving Konkani language.
Among those present were the society’s first president, Alfie Monteiro; former presidents Peter D’Souza and Angelo Menezes; outgoing president Vincent Dias; founder of Santulan, Adv Bastu Rege; Vinod Pinto; Anton D’Cruz; Robert Viegas; Frankie Pinto; Simon D’Souza; and several other distinguished members of the community.
The election of Elias Bardeskar, a son of Harali village in the Gadhinglaj region, to the prestigious post of president of the PKKS has brought joy to the Goan settlers and Konkani enthusiasts in Ajara, Gadhinglaj, Chandgad and other parts of southern Maharashtra.
The PKKS is a prominent organisation representing Konkani-speaking Catholics from the upper Ghats regions and Sindhudurg. Bardeskar’s election has been warmly welcomed by members of the Konkani community across these regions.
