CONDOLENCES On behalf of the president, managing committee and members, we wish to convey to the family of late ZITO ALMEIDA, our heartfelt condolences. Our prayers to the Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest. We have lost a great contributor of Konkani.
Carmo Santos Chairman Goan Cultural Centre - Kuwait [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Goa's Pride www.goa-world.com <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > A VOICE OF KONKNNI NO MORE > By Valmiki Faleiro > > > No one who has read Konknni in the Roman script would not be familiar with > the name of Zito Almeida. In a passion for writing, spanning some five > decades, Zito produced a huge mass of published work, most of it in his > beloved mother tongue. But, sometimes – for a wider reach, as he would say – > also in English. This was so particularly on the life of saints and village > feasts. > > Not without surprise: Zito hailed from a deeply religious family, as he > himself also was. > > His elder brother, late Fr. Lactancio Almeida, of the Society of Pilar, was > a long-time Editor of the 'Vauraddeancho Ixtt. 'Zito was born March 2, 1938 > at Banda, Assolna. So entwined was his life with his faiththat when he > decided to start a business for a living, he set it up at Margao's > "HolyFamily House" dealing mainly with, what else, all forms of religious > items – from Biblesand scapulars to rosaries, from Holy pictures and statues > to ciboria. Side-by-side on the shelves of his showroom lay, of course, his > second love: books in Konknni. > > After completing primary studies in Portuguese and further studies in > English, Zito began writing at a young age. He initially contributed to > 'Aitarachem Vachop,' a weekly published by the Salesian Society from Panjim. > He continued his Konknni writing in 'Vauraddeancho Ixtt,' Pilar Society's > popular weekly. > > Among the daily newspapers he wrote for were 'Sot', 'Novem-Goem', 'Divtti', > 'GoenchoAvaz', and 'A Vida.' So also for weeklies like 'Udentichem Nokhetr', > 'The Goa Times','The Goa Mail', 'Avé Maria', 'Cine-Times', 'Loksad', 'Konkan > Mail', and monthlies like'Dor Mhoineachi Roti', 'Gulab', 'The Goan Review' > (a bi-monthly), and 'Renovação,'the fortnightly of the Archdiocese of Goa > and Daman. Most in today's younger generations would have only heard of > these publications: almost all now extinct. > > In addition to that voluminous work, Zito authored some books. Among > them:'Bhurgeank Kannio-I', 'Bhurgeank Kannio-II', 'Vaitt Ieta Boreak' > (1967), 'Fatima' (on theapparitions, 1973), 'Goy, Mhojea Sopnantlem Painnem' > (on Goa and Goans, 2006), all in Romi Konknni. > > As General Secretary of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal, he edited 'Konknni, Romi > LipintKhas Natalam Ank-1979.' He also edited Special Issues of 'Natalanchim > Nokhetram' (in Konknni, English and Portuguese, at Christmas-1968) and > 'Goychi Ranni,' (Carnival-1980.) > For a lifetime of work in Konknni, Zito was a much-decorated man. Among the > many honours, awards and 'puroskars' he received: In 'Konknni Pustokancho > Spordho'organised by the then 'Konknni Katolk Boroinnarancho Ekvott,' he was > awarded thefirst prize for his book 'Bhurgeank Kannio-I' (1970). He bagged > the "Fr. LactancioAlmeida Iadostik Puroskar" as the best writer of > 'Vavraddeancho Ixtt' (1986.) The'Gulab Award' came his way for being a "Boro > Borovpi" (1988.) He was feted by 'Vavraddeancho Ixtt' (2003.) The Dalgado > Konknni Academi awarded him their "Fr.Freddy J. Da Costa Potrokar > Puroskar-2006" for his writings in the past 52 years.Among the many public > felicitations was one in 2007, for his writings on Gulab fromthe monthly's > inception in 1983. Of course, he was honoured by both the > State-levelinstitutions of the language, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the > Goa KonkaniAcademy for his lifelong contribution to the language. > > Besides his articles in Konknni, Zito also wrote rather profusely in the > Englishlanguage. This work was published in Goa's 'Herald', 'The Navhind > Times', 'Gomantak Times' and 'Fr. Agnel's Call.'The great thud that shocked > the Konknni world ironically came from a small fall athome. Zito was > bleeding a bit from the head. When brought to a Margao hospital, hisvital > parameters necessitated admission to the ICU. Suddenly, several unrelated > problems surfaced and, in less than a week and before anyone could realise > it, thenotable son of Konknni had passed into the pages of history. > > Zito-bab breathed his last on April 4, 2008, at age 70. He leaves behind his > wife, MariaEmy Menezes of Cuncolim and children Rubina/Russel, Darlene > Orfelinda, Savio and Maria Lourdes (Lulush) and two grandchildren, Rusener > and Rubayne. All the saint she worshipped and propagated during his journey > here must have surely been there at the pearly gates, to welcome him to > eternal home. > > ===== > The above article appeared in the March 2, 2008 edition of the Herald, Goa > ===== > > > Goa-World.Com Team expresses sincere condolences > to the family of Zito Almeida > May God grant eternal rest. > ________________________________ > http://www.goa-world.com > http://www.live365.com/stations/61664 Live Konkani Music > http://www.youtube.com/uly334 Konkani Video's Online > http://www.mahableshwar.com/ > > > Addresses: > Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > URL to this page: > http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans
