-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- At a well attended gathering of 265 people in an ill maintained Municipal Council Hall at Quepem, today 26 th October, 2005 at 1600 hrs sharp the "Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar" named after Fr Antonio Pereira sj founding member of the Thomas Stephen Kendra was awarded to Mr Jess Fernandes a renowned Konkani writer (both scripts Devanagari and Roman) a native of Palolem in Canacona but settled in Quepem, at the hands of Mr M V Naik of Quepem.
Briefing upon the background of Mr Fernandes,Ms Jayanti Naik a Konkani writer herself hailed the achievements of Mr Fernandes as he rose from the background of a traditional toddy tapper's family to a stage where his silent work earned him this prestigious award. Ms Jayanti Naik admitted that in Quepem, it was a familiar sight to see herself and Mr Jess the two Konkani writer always together, as for both Konkani was their first love. On the ocassion the Thomas Stephen Kendra Porvorim (earlier the office was located at Miramar- is a Konkani research educational and cultural centre named after the sixteenth century English Jesuit a renowned linguist and Marathi poet who came to Goa on 24 October 1579 (coincidentally 24th October is the date when the technically constituted government came to power) and also produced the first grammar of an Indian language (Konkani) to be printed in 1622 ) took pride in felicitating Ms Jayanti Naik a native of Quepem who will soon be awarded the first Doctorate in Konkani literature (Devnagari script ) by the Goa University. Fr Pratap Naik, Director TSKK who spoke on the ocassion stressed upon the need to promote both scripts Devanagari and Roman. Fr Michael Rebello, brother of late Dr F M Rebello, who is a polyglot himself,now Parish priest of Quepem Church having served in the US for over a decade found that Goans everywhere indulge in crab mentality hypocricy jealousy running down others at all times. They lack unity he stressed. He admitted that a Goan is one who is proud to speak Konkani and never attends functions where the proceedings are not in Konkani be it a baptism nuptials whatever. He appealed to the gathering to take pride in the Konkani language in their daily lives. The proceedings were interspersed with musical show rendered with the traditional group of "Quepemche Kirna" a musical group which has regaled audiences all over Goa and will now perform at New Delhi, Goan Youth Festival promoted by the Goa State Government. Mr Jess Fernandes was so overwhelmed with the award that he was very emotional and his thoughts strayed away from the prepared notes as he narrated --how his father had the habit of reading every book and newspaper he glanced when he came to Margao. This imbibed in Mr Jess the spirit of learning and it is to him he gave credit for his success today. Mr Jess proudly announced that his home in Quepem has a wide collection of books of different kinds and his door was open for all and sundry to browse (not to take ) any book. He also stated that despite his qualification in the field of sanitation and hygiene as an exemployee of the Goa Government Department of Health from where he retired he was never given a promotion, for reasons unknown but this award conferred upon him was the most prestigious. Mr M V Naik who made it at the function despite his wife's illness had words of praise for Mr Fernandes. He claimed that initially he was given the description of Mr Jess as a "pisso" who just writes and reads -- being a silent worker. But later as he played an active roll in the Konkani agitation (Mr Fernandes suffered three injuries ) and wrote Konkani fluently in both Devanagari script and Roman script he earned the respect of the masses and got noticed. The function was graced by several priests nuns writers of Konkani in Devanagari script and Roman script as well. Prominent among those present were Mr Shivdas N (Naik), Prof S Borges, trade Union leader Cristopher Fonseca, Mr. A Veronica Fernandes of Kuwait Konkani Kendra who is currently in Goa. The function ended at 1845 hrs and was well organised. from the Quepem Municipal Hall Godfrey J I Gonsalves Borda Margao [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________ Enjoy this Diwali with Y! India Click here http://in.promos.yahoo.com/fabmall/index.html