Academy to launch campaign to save Konkani language

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has initiated ‘Halliyinda Dillige Dilliyinda Dubaige Konkani Abhiyana’ (Konkani campaign from village to Delhi; Delhi to Dubai), a campaign to create awareness on Konkani language and the need to save the language, said Academy President R P Naik.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said awareness programmes will be held in select villages of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and outside the state as well. The campaign aims at creating awareness among parents so students can choose Konkani as their third language in schools across the state. As part of the campaign, a valedictory of Vishwa Konkani Jagruthi Abhiyana will be held in Dubai.

“Unless 300 students write SSLC exam in Konkani language, the government will not give permission to introduce Konkani as a third optional language in PU,” Naik said.

Stating that the Academy is planning to bring out 100 books on socially relevant issues in Konkani, Naik said that around 70 books are ready. Social issues like environment, water conservation, joint family system and other topics are covered in these books. The Academy had given about 150 topics to 150 writers, but since many of them could not complete their works within the deadline, the number of books has been restricted to 100.

Naik said that the Academy is also offering certificate courses in music and theatre activities in schools and college. A certificate course in folk art form has been conducted at St Aloysius College, and courses in Sugama Sangeetha and Konkani musical instruments are conducted in two other colleges.

Shortly, the Academy will also conduct a half hour programme on Konkani food, in association with Doordarshan, either once a week or once a month. Discussions with the Doordarshan Director are being held in this regard.

The Academy wanted to bring out a dictionary in Devanagari, Konkani and English script. As the budget was high, the Academy has appealed to the Konkani Study Chair to take up the project, he added.