'Open up new avenues to popularise Konkani'

Dr Uday Narayan Singh, Chair of Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan - Centre for Endangered Languages said, Konkani language has to establish new connections based on innovative ideas, to enable large number of people understand the language.

Speaking after inaugurating Vishwa Konkani Samaroha organised by Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation at World Konkani Centre in Shaktinagar in Mangaluru on Thursday, he said that Konkani has established connections in Europe through the Konkani speaking people who are the followers of Christianity.
But, the language has to go beyond, that ensuring that it is popularised in various other parts of the globe as well.

 “No language is high or low. It is perceived so, depending upon the perspective of the thinkers. Literature in different languages helps readers understand different views. A language should be able to connect with other foreign languages in terms of translated works,” he added lamenting that inspite of being the strongest language in terms of literature, no Indian language was able to connect themselves with Arabic.

He opined that the ancient scriptures can not restrict themselves from undergoing modifications, for the only reason that the scriptures are holy and cannot be touched. For instance, there are various interpretations of Ramayana and our ancestors did not step back from modifying them.

Citing the examples of Bengali novelist Banaphool and Bengali story teller Jarasandha, he said that a medical practitioner could be a good novelist and a jailor could be the best story teller. Area of work can not stop one from creating the best literary works.

Presiding over the function, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Dr K Byrappa said that the Konkani Chair in Mangalore University will coordinate with Vishwa Konkani Kendra for organising programmes towards research in Konkani language and culture. The language needs to be studied in terms of its genetic aspects and migration, through a scientific approach. Also, it is high time that researches on Konkani dialects and linguistics are carried out, he said.

He meanwhile invited Dr Uday Narayan Singh to be the Adjunct Professor at Mangalore University.

He further said that Dr Uday Narayana Singh was held in high esteem by the Kannadigas as it was based on the report submitted by Dr Singh, Kannada was given the classical language status.

World Konkani Centre president Basti Vaman Shenoy said that the Kendra will sign a memorandum with the Mangalore University, towards a coordination between both institutions in organising programmes related to Konkani language and culture.

Goa University Faculty of Languages Dean Dr Kiran Budkuley said that there was a need to lay emphasis on the area of Konkani translation. Kerala Konkani Sahitya Academy president Payyanoor Ramesh Pai and World Konkani Centre Secretary B Prabhakar Prabhu were present.