the goan I network
MARGAO
Without stressing on any one type of people, one colour, one community, there is a need to celebrate diversity, but above all unity is of paramount importance, said Datta Damodar Naik.
He was speaking as chief guest at the books release function organised by Dalgado Konknni Akademi. DKA President, Tomazinho Cardozo, the writers of the two books, Damodar Mauzo and Dr Jayanti Naik, DKA secretary and the transliterator, Vincy Quadros and DKA Treasurer, Celso Fernandes were present on the dais with the chief guest.
The programme was held on Saturday at the Conference Hall, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
The two books originally written in Devnagri script were transliterated in Roman script. While Vincy Quadros did the honours for the children’s novel ‘Sunami Saimom’ by Sahitya Akademi Awardee, Damodar Mauzo, Prof. S. M. Borges did the job for the short stories book ‘Gorjon’ by Sahitya Akademi Awardee, Dr. Jayanti Naik. Sahitya Akademi winner and renowned Konkani writer Datta Damodar Naik released these two books.
Stating that Damodar Mauzo is unique, the chief guest said the writer has provided a different style in his writings, juicy as watermelon and crispy as the bread.
He further said that the writer has portrayed a clear picture of the Christian community which the Hindu community is totally unaware of. Comparing the writings of Dr. Jayanti Naik to the folklore, the chief guest said that the readers can feel the pulse of the Bahujan Samaj through her writings.
While stressing that the language is greater than the script, community greater than the language, he asked Dalgado Konknni Akademy to do the transliterating themselves rather than expect Goa Konkani Akademi to even take a step in this direction.
In his address, Damodar Mauzo said that DKA and GKA must work together. Stating further that the differences are a part of the mindset, and not the language per say, Damodar appealed to the people to set aside the differences and read his book and provide him with the feedback.
Expressing her happiness at the love given to her by the Devnagri and Romi people, Dr. Jayanti Naik said that with the releases of her books, she was able to provide the Devnagri readers but felt bad that she could not serve the Romi readers. Now that her book ‘Gorjon’ is transliterated in Roman script and that it would reach the Romi readers, she expressed sigh of relief.
DKA President, Tomazinho Cardozo, said the transliteration being one of the options to get the two groups together, appealed the other institutions to transliterate the writings in Roman script to Devnagri script.
Bal Sahitya Award winner, translilerator of several books and ‘Sunami Saimom’ amongst them, spoke on the depth of the writings
of the two books released on the day.
While the DKA Treasurer, Celso Fernandes proposed vote of thanks, Konkani writer Menino Almeida compered the function. The function ended with the singing of the national anthem.
