THE FIRST WORLD KONKANI CULTURAL CONVENTION – Step-by-step, towards the
Convention…
After the Goa curtain-raiser:
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· July 18, 2010: - the successful Goa curtain-raiser.
· July 19: Eric Baab along with Baab Vivek Mordekar and Baab Prashant
Kamat toured the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra to identify and recruit
Konkani troupes there. ‘Chaitanya Mahila Vikas Mandal’, Banda, Sawantwadi has
been recruited to perform ‘Dashavatari’ – a traditional form of drama and Shri
Edwin Francis D’Souza and team of Ajgaon has been invited to present a play.
· July 21: A meeting of prominent Konkani leaders of Mumbai under the
leadership of Shri Albert D’Souza, Patron of the Convention, was convened at
St.
Xavier’s Engg. College Conference Hall, Mahim. Shri Ronald Mendonca, Chairman,
Kalaangann; Rev. Fr. Ramesh Francis Naik, Chief Patron, Kalaangann; Shri John
D’Silva and Shri Pius Vas, both Directors, Kalaangann and Shri Lawrence Coelho,
Editor, ‘Divo’ were a few among those present. At this meeting, the Mumbai
curtain-raiser was discussed and Aug. 29, 11 a.m. was fixed as the date and
time
of the Mumbai curtain-raiser and Rang Sharda, Bandra was finalized as the
venue.
A meeting of leaders of all Konkani organizations of Mumbai was fixed for Aug.
14 at the same place.
· July 23 and 24: Baab Stany Alvares and Baab Rony Arun, two leading
activists of Mandd Sobhann, visited Goa to meet the Chief Minister and submit
an
application for financial assistance and also to meet the Chairman of the
Entertainment Society of Goa, to request for involvement in the Film Festival.
Special thanks to Baab Vishal Pai and Tomazinho Baab for their help and
guidance.
· July 26: Eric Baab was a Special Guest at the ‘Navayat Mehfil’ at
M.A.
Rehmaan Maam’s son’s wedding pendal. The ‘Mehfil’ which began at 9.30 p.m.,
reluctantly ended at 2.30 a.m., where more than 1000 people gathered. Eric Baab
extended a cordial invitation to the Navayati Konkani Muslim community to
present a one-hour ‘Navayat Mehfil’ at the World Convention. This invitation
was
gladly accepted.
· July 27: Eric Baab sat with Shri Narayan Baab Kharvi, the President
of
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, to shortlist the teams from Uttara Kannada.
Baab Naveen accompanied Eric Baab on this tour.
· Aug. 4: Thanks to the initiative of Dr. Ashok Pai and Dr. Rajani Pai,
world-famous psychiatrists, a meeting of Konkanis of all communities was
organized at 5 p.m. at their Conference Hall. Konkanis of Shimoga were briefed
about the World Convention and an official invitation was extended to all
Konkanis to participate in the same. ‘Vagdevi Konkani Mahila Yaksharanga’, a
fully female troupe, was invited to present their Yakshagana at the World
Convention. Navayati Muslims, Christians, GSBs, Daivajna Brahmins, Saraswats
were represented at the meeting. The Konkanis of Shimoga were so enthused, that
they offered to form a committee to mobilize financial support from Shimoga.
· Aug. 5 and 6: Eric Baab went round Bangalore to finalise the Konkani
troupes. 5 teams have been selected for performance. They are :
1. ‘Rasika Arts’ (drama) – Shri P.R. Nayak
2. ‘Swar Saptak’ (Konkani ghazals) – Shri M.S. Kamath
3. Shri Puttur Narasimha Nayak (Konkani songs)
4. ‘Canara Union’ (Natak) – Saraswats
5. Shri Bhadragiri Achyuthadasji (Harikatha)
On the evening of 6, Eric Baab had a meeting with the leaders of the Federation
of Konkani Catholic Associations, under the Chairmanship of Shri Valerian
Fernandes, the present Chairperson. The involvement of Bangalore was discussed
in detail. The Federation was offered the leadership of one day of the Festival
at the Convention as ‘Bangalore-Day’. The Federation, in return, promised every
participation. In particular, the Federation would motivate and organize at
least 2 youth teams to participate in the ‘Yuva Mahamell’, participate in the
various competitions, recommend worthy individuals and organizations for the
various awards and also help out in the effort of resource mobilization.
The Chairman of the Federation voluntarily came forward to hand over a cheque
of
Rs. 25,000/- as his personal contribution. This incidentally, is the first
actual contribution received, though there are many other promises. We thank
Shri Valerian Fernandes for this kind gesture.
* Aug. 13: Eric Baab will be in Mumbai, recruiting 9 teams from that
region.
* Aug. 14: A meeting of leaders of all Konkani organizations of Mumbai
has been
convened to distribute invitations and to finalise details of ther Mumbai
curtain-raiser, at St. Xavier’s Engg. College Hall, Mahim.
* Aug. 16: The Hyderabad ‘Vovllig’ programme - Eric Baab will address
the
Konkanis of Hyderabad / Secunderabad, belonging to various denominations, brief
them about the Convention and seek their involvement and participation. The
meeting is scheduled at All Saints High School, Gun Foundry (Near Abids),
Hyderabad at 5.30 p.m.
… As the great event approaches, the need for your involvement, both physical
and financial, is felt all the more. Hope you will not let us down.
*****
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Mandd Sobhann,
Kalaangann,
Makale,
Shaktinagar,
Mangalore-575 016.
Ph: 0824-2230489 / 2232239
http://www.kalaangann.com/
