6 to get Konkani Sahitya Academy awards

The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has announced the names of the achievers, who will be honoured with the prestigious Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Awards 2018.

Speaking to reporters here, on Saturday, Academy President R P Naik said the Honorary awards will be conferred on J F D’Souza (Literature), Kudla Anandu Madhukar Shanbhag (Art) and Vasanth Bandekar (Folklore).

The Academy Book awards will be given to Roshu Bajpe for his collection of poem “Theenth Jalem Ragath,” Jeyal Manjarapalke for her short story “Chandemanchim Khatham” and Tara Laveena Fernandes for her novel “Chuklim Metam.”

The awards will be conferred during Konkani literary, art and folk programmes to be held at Dandeli, Joida and Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district from March 8 to 10.

Naik said the Honorary awards will carry cash prize of Rs 50,000 each while the Book awards carry cash prize of Rs 25,000 each.

The Academy has received nine collection of poems, nine short stories, three novels, one play and one translation works for the award.

Further, Naik said that the Academy has already organised over 44 programmes in the households in selected villages as a part of “Halliyinda Dillige Dilliyinda Dubaige Konkani Abhiyana” (Konkani campaign from village to Delhi Delhi to Dubai” to create awareness on Konkani language. About 100 such programmes will be organised by the Academy.

The Academy is also organising certificate courses in music, theatre and ‘Gummat,’ the traditional music instrument used by Konkani community in schools and colleges.

J F D’Souza hails from Mangaluru and has been writing stories from children, poems and articles in Konkani. Some of his works are ‘Bhangarachi Maskli,’ ‘Bhangarachi Kurad,’ ‘Bhangarachi Maajar’ and ‘Velakalachim Soothram.’ He also writes in Kannada, Tulu and English as well.

Kudla Anandu Madhukar Shanbhag has created a niche for himself in Konkani theatre field and has directed over 40 plays. He has also acted in over 40 plays.

His play “Havu Ek Nataka Khello” was aired in Dharwad AIR and was later translated to other languages. Some of his works are “Adgathyo” and “Hovyo.”

Vasanth Bandekar has been engaged in creating awareness on Konkani folklore and literature through audio-video visuals. He has documented Konkani folk through audio and video by travelling extensively to villages for six months. He has also collected articles used by Konkani households.

Tara Laveena is working as a teacher at Kinnikambala Government High School and has been writing stories for Konkani magazines. She had won Academy award in 2012 for her work “Daskath Ani Hair Katha.” Roshu Bajpe has been engaged in writing short stories and essays in Konkani. Jeyal is a teacher at St Mary’s School in Kundapura and has been writing for Konkani magazines.