MARGAO
Konkani literary stalwarts, Jnanpith award winner Damodar Mauzo and Saraswati Samman awardee Mahabaleshwar Sail on Tuesday shared their literary journey as they expressed their memories growing up in pre-independent India and Goa.
While Mauzo said that life in those times was very much tough yet relaxed, Sail spoke about his experience of working in the fields to know about its craft and how it influenced his literature.
The duo was speaking at the ‘Bhas-Samvad’ programme organised by Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.
Speaking further, Mauzo shared memories about various trials and tribulations faced by Konkani as a language and how delighted he was to see a big turnout for the programme and how times have changed for Konkani.
Both shared their motivation and the process of their writing. While being a shopkeeper helped Maujo to know people well and write about them, Sail’s life in Majali, its nature and the culture of joining the military helped him bring realism into his literature.
Despite being a cancer survivor, Mauzo felt motivated to write because he said that even when one is unwell, one is constantly aware of their surroundings. He stressed the fact that one needs to adopt a positive attitude in life to face challenges.
Sail acknowledged the role of Goan soil in making him realise that he can write better in Konkani and he said that he was glad that Goa became his work land.
Mauzo reiterated that he believes in power of youth and suggested that they should read more. Sail too stressed on developing the existing skills in youth.
The interview was conducted by Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar and Brijesh Shet Desai.
The event evoked a massive response with more than 350 students from several colleges and universities in Goa and teachers from various schools, apart from literary enthusiasts and readers attending the programme.
