the goan I network
PANAJI
Nila Mohanan (IAS), Secretary-Education, government of Goa emphasised that “Konkani is a very rich language but deserves more attention; and should be given its due importance so that
it remains as vibrant as it is today.”
Mohanan was speaking at the awards ceremony of The Third Edition of ICG-Goa University Essay Competition “Ideas Unleashed” 2018 held recently at The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Mohanan who was the chief guest at the function, hailed the decision of the organisers for the encouraging initiative of having introduced Konkani language as a category in addition to the existing English category; for the Third Edition of Ideas Unleashed.
Also present were Professor Varun Sahni, Vice Chancellor - Goa University, Yatin Kakodkar, President “ ICG and Dr Pushkar, Director “ ICG. Ideas Unleashed 2018 is supported by Dattaraj Salgaocar, Chairman, VM Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education and Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of ICG.
The Third Edition of Ideas Unleashed was announced in mid-August 2018. The topic for the essay competition was “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Challenges for Goa.” Due to the excellent response in previous editions of Ideas Unleashed, the organisers decided to hold the competition in both English and Konkani languages. The competition was open to students currently enrolled with Goa University and colleges affiliated to Goa University, the Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS)-Goa, the National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Goa, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Goa, up to the age of 25 years.
In all, 111 entries were received from 33 institutions. Professor Kiran Budkuley, former Head at the Department of English, Goa University screened the entries. Patricia Sethi, award winning journalist; author and columnist; Professor KS Bhat, Department of English, Goa University; Dr Isabel Santa Rita Vas, guest faculty at Department of English, Goa University and Dr Prakash Parienkar, Head, Department of Konkani, Goa University; were the jury members for the competition.
During her address to the engaged audience; that mainly comprised the top prize winners, short-listed participants, parents, teachers, professors and heads of various departments of Goa University and affiliated colleges; Mohanan, an IAS officer of 2007 Batch who was previously District Collector, North Goa; mentioned that “in the current milieu, it is very important to present an idea in a fashion that is democratically pleasant; and written dialogue should be shared in such a manner that it indicates the writer’s tolerance to accept any other opinion which may be divergent from one’s own.”
The chief guest presented the trophies to the top winners; Lynn Marie Dias of St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and Adriel Peter Almeida of Don Bosco College, Panaji were awarded the first place in English and Konkani categories respectively; in second place was Pratyay Zilu Shetye of National Institute of Technology “ Goa and in third place was Sailee Kudchadkar of Goa Medical College, Bambolim. The award-winners also received merit certificates and cash prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 20,000 & Rs 15,000 respectively. Students whose entries were short-listed for the top prizes were awarded consolation prizes of Rs. 500 each. The award winning essays have been published on ICG’s official website: www.internationalcentregoa.com
