PANAJI
Dalgado Konknni Akademi will observe July 20 as Fr. Freddy J Da Costa Memorial Day at the DKA’s Reginald Fernandes Conference Hall at 10.30 am. Fr Hasten Fernandes, Asst Parish Priest of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim, will be the key note speaker for the day. Vincy Quadros, President of DKA will preside. Vice President Daniel F. De Souza, Secretary William Fernandes and Treasurer Celso Fernandes will also participate.
The Dalgado Konknni Akademi observes July 20 every year as Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa Memorial Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of their founder president. Fr Freddy J. Da Costa was a prolific writer, editor, publisher and a strong protagonist of Konkani language. One can say Fr Freddy was a institution in himself.
As the founder president of DKA he had laid a strong base for the literary body by bringing together all the writers and lovers of Konkani under one roof for its development and growth. Although DKA came into existence in the year 1988, it was struggling due to lack of financial help. Its activities were nearly stopped after some years.
Fr Freddy played a great role in reviving of DKA, calling a meeting of all Roman script Konkani writers on May 12, 2004 and constituted an ad hoc Committee headed by himself. Unfortunately fate dealt a severe blow when Fr Freddy passed away in a tragic road accident on May 17, 2004 at a young age thereby leaving a huge vacuum in the Roman script Konkani literary movement. Ever since then DKA remembers him on his birth anniversary by conducting special talks on social issues.
However, since 2020, due to the pandemic situation prevailing all over the country, the same is held in a restrained manner. On account of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and protocol, the function is open to limited invitees only.
