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Contact Rosario Fernandes +1 (905) 858-0871 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fr. Moreno de Souza,sj, a noted writer in the Roman Script, using both Konkani and English languages to convey his thoughts and knowledge, will be awarded the Goa State Cultural Award for literature along with Mahableshwar Sail and Mahableshwar Redkar at a function to be held at the recently restored Ana Fonte, Margao. the award will be given by the Chief Minister of Goa in the distinguished presence of the Minister of Art & Culture on 16 February, 2007. The Award consists of a Shrifal [coconut], Shawl, certificate, a memento and Rs.20,000/- in cash. The awardees will recieive a pension of Rs.1, 600 from next month onwards. Fr. Moreno de Souza was the Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica and a custodian of the relics of 'Goencho Saib' St.Francis Xavier at Old Goa for many years. He edited during the turn of the Millenium the oldest surviving Konkani periodical in any script, "Dhor Mhoinneachi Rotti", exclusively published in the Romi lipi since 1915, beginning in Karachi and then moving to Mumbai before making Goa its publication hed quarters. He has also published other works in Konkani [Romi lipi only, with one book transliterated into Devanagri by the TSKK] and English. It is nice to see the State of Goa acknowledge once again the contribution of literature published in Konani Romi lipi to the preservation and development of culture and the ethos of Goa. The award comes at the fag end of his life . Still it is better than being pothumous in a society that believes in the adage "Mellelle moshik bara sher dudh". Awards, except may be for gallantry and martyrdom, must go to the living. They serve as an incentive to excell by recognising the work done up to then. It is said, "Four cities fight for the honour of Homer dead; four cities in which Homer begged." We can do better than that. I congratulate Fr. Moreno de Souza,sj, on his selection for this State Award and I am sure that Goans worldwide, specailly those who accept Konkani as their mother tongue, also join me in wishing him all the best. Mog asundi. Miguel Braganza