Pietro's novel in Kannada script

Pietro's novel in Kannada script
ANJUNA: "Tichea Morna Uprant", a novel originally written in Konkani, in the Roman script, by Bonaventure D'Pietro, has been published in the Kannada script. The novel , which is based on three different as well as crucial aspects of tourism in Goa - advantage, disadvantage and tourists, has been transcribed in Kannada by Fr Pratap Naik SJ, Director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim.
The novel was earlier selected by the Goa University as a text book at the post graduate level for Konkani teachers.
"Tichea Morna Uprant", proved as popular as most of the novels penned by Anjuna-born musician-novelist Bonaventure D'Pietro.
The present version, in 313 pages and priced at Rs.50 only, has been published by by the Kannada Konkani Sahitya Academy, Mangalore. This is the first book from the Roman script Konkani to be printed in Kannada script. It will be released on March 2 at Kalangan (the site of the recent Nirantari Konknni - Guinness feat) in Mangalore. [GoaNewsClips]

Goa Konkani Akademi to felicitate Konkani writers

Goa Konkani Akademi to felicitate Konkani writers
NT Staff Reporter


Panaji, Jan 21, 2008

The Goa Konkani Akademi today announced a scheme for awarding cash prizes to the Konkani writers and poets, besides lifetime achievement awards for those who had contributed substantially towards promotion and preservation of the Konkani language in different capacities, in both Devnagari and Roman scripts.

The president of the Goa Konkani Akademi, Mr Pundalik Naik, addressing a press conference, this morning said that the scheme known as Konkani Sahitya/ Seva Puraskar scheme will follow the pattern of awarding the prizes on the similar lines as done by Sahitya Akademi.

According to the scheme, five awards of Rs 10,000 each will be awarded annually in five categories namely poetry, short-story, play, essays/ travelogue and research/ science/ criticism, and one of Rs 5,000 in the category of children’s literature. Besides the cash amount, a memento and a certificate will also be presented to the winners.

The books published during the current year as well as past two years will be eligible for the awards presented during the present year. For the awards to be given for the year 2007-2008, the books eligible should be published between - January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007.

The scheme also maintains that the recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as the members of the board of the GKA will not be eligible for the awards in these categories. Furthermore, entries may be sent for more than one category but only one book will be considered at a time for the award.

The Sahitya Pradnya Puraskar, again carrying an award of Rs 25,000, a certificate, a memento and shawl will have the same age limit and given to those who have contributed in the field of Konkani language research, grammar, dictionary, columns, and tiatrs.

The Yuva Chaitanea Puraskar - two awards - each including cash prize of Rs 15,000, a memento and a certificate will be given to youth of age up to 40 years, who have worked either personally or with the help of institution in the field of Konkani language, literature, music, play, education, research, culture and also shown their co-operation spirit in Konkani language/ literary movement.

The Shenoi Goembab Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar, a lifetime achievement award limited to the Goa state and having prize money of Rs 25,000, a certificate, a memento and shawl will be awarded to those who have completed 50 years of age and worked in the field of Konkani language as an activist or a leader.

The other two lifetime achievement awards - Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar and Konkani Seva Sanstha Puraskar - each including a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a certificate, a memento and shawl will be open for Goa as well as other states.

Those who have completed 50 years and have worked as an activist, leader, organiser are eligible for the Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar, while the Konkani Seva Sanstha Puraskar is for the registered institutions which have contributed service in the field of Konkani language for at least 10 years.

Mr Naik informed that the annual budget for the prizes is Rs 2 lakh, besides another Rs 1 lakh earmarked for organisation of award functions, panel of judges, etc.

He also announced that prizes would be constituted for Konkani media - print and electronic - including compere, radio jockeys, reporters, etc, from next year.
(The Navhind Times)

Wise Konkani Sayings

Wise Konkani Sayings
By Pio Esteves


The richness of any language lies in its proverbs or adages. Wise sayings undoubtedly add flavour to the language and raise its standard. They have been created by our ancestors and we need to preserve them for the future generation.

Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar has come out with a book ‘Konknni Oparincho Jhelo’ on numerous Konkani adages, which he has collected from different sources. He claims that it took him several years to gather countless proverbs, which he did wholeheartedly, for the love of the Konkani language.

The author has painstakingly arranged the axioms in an alphabetical order to make it easier for the reader to track down any maxim, as per his/her choice.

Some of the proverbs which feature in the book include ‘addechea udkan rikami baim bhorona’ (an empty well cannot be filled with artificial water), ‘allsai apovn haddta durbollkai (laziness welcomes poverty), ‘allxeacho dis sorona, vavurteleak rat-ui pavona’ (the day never ends for a lazy person and night is not sufficient for a laborious man), ‘addechem udok narlant ghalear godd zata?’ (Can artificial water turn sweet if dipped in a coconut?)

Special mention is made about guardians in adages like ‘avoi-bapaik dukh dixi, vollvolleank pavxi’ (you will suffer if you hurt your parents), avoik dium naka dukh, sodankal tumkam melltolem sukh’ (you will always enjoy life if you avoid hurting your mother) ‘avoichem bhurgem avoik zodd nhoi’ (a mother’s child is never a burden).

Focusing on idleness, adages like ‘bekar bhonvlear pott bhorona, jevlea bogor bhuk thambona’ (idleness will not feed you and unless you eat hunger will not die), ‘bekar bhonvtoleak man nasta (idle man gains no respect), ‘bekar bhonvon jevnk sodta tachi kaklut konn korta? (Who will pity an idle man who desires to eat?), enlighten the mind.

On love and trust, we have axioms like ‘bebdeak ani pixeak patiyeum nezo’ (never trust a drunkard and a insane person), ‘mog sarki vost dusri na (nothing is comparable to love), ‘mogan mog vaddta, divean divo pett’ta’ (love grows with love and a lamp can be lit with another lamp).

On ‘sufferings,’ there are proverbs, which include ‘sonsta taka Dev posta’ (God cares for the sufferer), ‘sosnnikai ani somjikai na zalear sukh ani dhadosponn na zata’ (if you have no patience and understanding, happiness will not follow), ‘dukha bhonvtonnim sukh, sukha bhonvtonnim dukh’ (sorrow and happiness are entwined), ‘dukh kaddlea bogor sukh mellona’ (unless you suffer you cannot enjoy happiness). Other common proverbs include ‘mag tuka melltelem, darar mar dar ugoddtelem, (seek and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened), ‘mogan zata tem ragan zaina’ (what can be done through love cannot be done in anger), ‘moro porian xikchem’ (one should learn till the end), ‘monant asa tem sopnant dista’ (what’s there in the mind is visible in a dream), ‘niz mogachem moll duddvamni zaina’ (true value of love cannot be weighed with money).

Perhaps if the author had taken pains in providing the interpretations of the popular Konkani idioms in English simultaneously, the book would have had more weightage and it would have come in handy to any reader. All the same, a sincere effort put in by the author for the compilation, is worth mentioning and deserves appreciation.

(The Navhind Times)

A Konkani Convert

A Konkani Convert - poem by Basilio Magno


A Konkani Convert

Annie Ferns met Mary Vaz down college lane,
With a Konkani paper held out in her hand;
Said Annie: "Pray tell me Mary, what's the name
Of this newspaper, and think you I understand,
The lingo? Is it French? So it seems by the script,
Oh tell me, Mary dear, tell me what is it?

It shocked May, who with some Goan pride.
Had carried to College this Konkani paper:
She retorted; "Annie, open your eyes wide
And read. Even Vimla said it appears,
To be the language spoken by Goans,
And you a Goan dare show yourself ignorant!

"Oh! the language of the Goans -Khon khan ee!"
Rejoined Annie, "has it such a fine monthly?
Me thought 'twas spoken by cooks and nannies,
And English was the language, one and only
That the educated Goans spoke, as did in our home,
And Konkani, I thought, we the elite did not own."

"Shame, shame!" cried her non-Goan friends.
"Annie, you dare disown your Mothertongue?"
"I read Marathi," And "Gujerati" said Anand.
"I read Tamil," said Vijayanti, not just for fun.
Poor annie went all blue feeling quite guilty,
Knowing she was a Goan , though of aristocracy.

"Give me that Gulab, Konkani monthly paper,"
She pulled it from Mary and made a vow:
"I'll learn that language -Konkani, no matter
How hard it may be, it's not too late now.
With a sense of prode sparkling in her eyes,
She beamed: "Funny, it's Konkani, but I'll prize."

- by Basilio Magno (Spain)

P.S: May this poem inspire Goans overseas to pay
more attentin to Konkani...to learn to speak it, at
least just for the academical interest, if you won't
need it for anything else.

( courtesy: Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter )

- Forwarded by AlmeidaG(ji), www.goa-world.com/goa/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goa-Goans/message/93

BRUSH UP YOUR KONKANI

BRUSH UP YOUR KONKANI
by Basilio Magno (Spain)

When was it the last time you spoke in Konkani, living outside
of Goa? Perhaps on World Goa Day in August 2003. And I say 'outside of
Goa' because even on Goa Day at Bombay's
celebration, according to its organizer Mr. Fausto da Costa
(GRAF) there were over 500 Goans gathered for the function
but they all spoke in English only.

Now if Bombay Goans did that, who should know better the
Konkani language. logically, what chances are there of Goans in Europe or
America speaking the Mothertongue? Surely, there must be some who speak it
at home, as a Portuguese
saying goes: Fora da terra mais patriota. One is more patrio-tic when away
from his/her Motherland.

I too, in Bombay, did not speak Konkani in my youth, because from childhood
we were made to speak in English.
It is only now that I am in Europe for over 43 years, that I have begun to
yearn to speak in Konkani, not satisfied speaking in English, Portuguese,
Spanish and German.
And I may say though I am a Portuguese citizen, having had left Goa prior to
its 'invasion' or 'liberation' whichever you fancy, I have become a better
Konkani patriot. I have no
one in Spain with whom to speak in Konkani, but when the urge is on me I
call my friends in Germany and speak it telephonically. More than that I
read and write profusely with what little Konkani I had learned as an adult
...at 35 of age..

So likewise, I am sure many of you must have knowledge of
Konkani through your grandmothers or, as some say, through
servants. Now you too could have been stuck not having anyone to speak with
and have lost the practice. Here, I think, the Goanet can play an important
role in brushing up your Konkani through the written word, you yourself
writing in Konkani or reading what others write....and reading it loudly to
yourself so that you get the feel of its sound. That's
what I did when I was learning German..reading loudly to exercise the tongue
as well to pronounce the words. Ang I must add that I could learn faster
German because I knew to
read in Konkani....which is similar phonetically.

You don't have to be a Konkani scholar to write on Goanet
or on any other net for that matter. Write as you know to speak it. If you
are a senior Goan like me. you may have learned to say 'aum' instead of
'hanv', or written 'maca' instead of 'mhaka' the sanskrised version now
learnt at
primary schools in Goa. But that does not matter, just write
as you know it from your earlier times. We will all understand you even if
the spelling is not correct, because the sense of the sentence will guide.
Remember, if you can read in Latin, German or Portuguese, you will be able
to read and write in Konkani..

The World Goa Day was created by Rene Barreto in 2000
to awaken Goans to the cause of Konkani. Later he introduced an on-line
Konkaniforum to encourage folks to read and write on the net in Konkani.
Hardly anybody writes. Now more than ever we need to be numbered as Konkani
speakers to hold fast our claim for Konkani as the official language, which
is being disputed by the Marathists
in Goa.

Our vocie to count, the Overseas Goans must firstly campaign for postal
voting rights in Goan politics in Goa. The fate of
Konkani is still hanging in thin air despite the fact it has been
enthroned in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Let's get ready
for the battle armed with the knowledge of Konkani, that we may be counted
among the Konkani speaking Goans against Marathiwallas.

I thank the Goanet administrators for permitting this Konkani Action to
promote Konkani among Overseas Goans, till we get someone to write and
publish on Goanet a Konkani course in Roman script, written in simple style
yet correct
grammatically.. In my next post I shall publish a short conver-sational
piece in Konkani, and you will find out how easy it is to speak in Konkani.
There are some others like Lino B. Dourado who are writing in Konkani on
Goanet.which must be read. The more people write the better.

Gunnest Pri. Moreno D’Souza

Gunnest Pri. Moreno D’Souza

Iadnik Bhav Moreno D’Souza Otubrache 14ver, 2007 Devachea Gopant gelo.

Ek boro huxar Iadnik, Konknni mogi ani Devachea mogan poddlolo Iadnik Gõyche Povitr Sobhek unno zalo mhunn sonvsari nodren dukh bhogta ani Bhavartache nodren sontos bhogta. Kiteak Iadnik bhavacho otmo Devachea gopant gelo. Ek sado, gunnest, Dev-bhirantecho Iadnik mhunn tannem soglle suvater nanv zoddlam.

Tachim provochonam (sermons) disa-dispottim jivitak lagta tache vixim astalem ani aikotoleank sorgar asa koxem distalem. Lhan utrancho ani peleache sevecho Iadnik to aslo. Kitem-i vaitt dislear tonddar sangpi, monant vo kallzant kainch dovrinam toslo iadnik to aslo.

Dor Mhoineachi Rotti hea mhoineallea masike-cho (monthly magazine) to zaito kall sompadok aslo ani tem masik jivall dovrunk zaite tras tannem ghetle. Vavraddeancho Ixtt, Renovacao, Gulab osleam Povitr Sobhe-cheam Potra-masikan-cher to aple zaite borem boroit aslo. Zaitea Kristi Dhormachea jivita vixim to son’xodhan (research) kortalo ani boroitalo. Gõycheam firgozam, kopelam vixim legit tannem zaitim pustokam boroileant ani Povitr Sobhek zaite torecho adar ani sohokar dila.

Romi ani Devonagori lipyent tannem zaiteo Konknni pustokam boroileant. Gõyant kitem-i vaitt borem zalem zalear aplem mon to rokddoch borovpantlean ugtem kortalo. Aplea borovpa udexim to soglleank thottak kortalo ani xabaski zoddun ghetalo. To boreantlo boro Konknni boroinnar aslo. Zoxem inglixent ek mhonn’nni asa - Pen is mightier than Sword.

Devan taka zaitea gunna-mnim bhorlolo ani he gunn tannem vevha-rant ghalunk zaite proytn kele. Devan tache sarke zaite gunnest Iadnik Povitr So-bhek favo korunk ani Iadnik Morenak sasnna-cho mukutt favo zavnk amchim khaltim magnnim.

Evaristo Fernandes,
Merces, St-Cruz

___________

Moreno de Souza SJ
1923-2007


Fr Moreno de Souza SJ (1923-2007), one of Konkani’s illustrious writers, passed away on October 14, 2007 at 7.30 pm at the JMJ Hospital, Alto-Porvorim, Goa. His mortal remains will he housed at the Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa and interred on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 4.00 pm.

Fr Moreno de Souza SJ was born on November 3, 1923, at Pilerne, Bardez, Goa at his mother’s house; his father was from Marna, Siolim. They later shifted to Pilerne permanently. Moreno completed his matriculation from Mater Dei Institute, Saligao. Being persuaded by Monsignor Ayres Fernandes from Siolim to write in his own mother tongue, Moreno, as a boy, began writing in Konkani. In 1944 Moreno joined the Society of Jesus. He completed his priestly training in Mumbai, Shembaganur (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi, Belgaum, Granada and Salamanca in Spain. He was ordained a priest on July 15, 1958 in Granada, Spain.

Fr Moreno ardently loved his mother tongue Konkani. His two maternal uncles were priests and musicians, which furthered his interests in composing songs, hymns and poetry. He knew several languages such as Latin, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalina, Marathi, Tamil and Hindi. Soon after his ordination Fr Moreno regularly started contributing to Aitarachem Vachop, a Konkani weekly run by the Salesians. He also contributed to Udentechem Neketr, a weekly from Bombay as also to Vavraddeancho Ixtt. He was inspired by the people of Ranchi to write religious hymns in Konkani when he saw Adivasi Christians singing their religious songs in Hindi.

Fr Moreno rendered invaluable service to the Konkani monthly Dor Mhoineachi Rotti in the Roman script. Fr Moreno was instrumental in keeping this publication alive till date. Dor Mhoineachi Rotti was first started in Karachi, Pakistan in 1915. In 1960 its office was shifted to Bombay. Later, when Fr Moreno was posted at Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, he was entrusted with the responsibility of this magazine. He served the readers of Dor Mhoineachi Rotti for the last 42 years as editor, till August 2006, after which this magazine was handed over to the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim, Goa.

Fr Moreno had established himself as a historian by dint of his hard work. His outstanding research and work on the Churches of Goa in Konkani (in the Roman script) deserve special mention. They include 4 volumes: Tisvaddecheo Igorzo, Bardescheo Igorzo, and Saxtticheo Igorzo (two volumes). Besides these he has authored 24 books in Konkani. His last book, Saxtticheo Igorzo (second volume) on the Churches of Salcette was released on September 23, 2007. He contributed innumerable articles in Konkani in the Roman script which were published in Vavaraddeancho Ixtt, Gulab, The Goan Review, Goencho Avaz, etc. He also penned a number of articles in English on varied subjects such as the Konkani language, literature and culture. Besides, he served the Konkani-speaking people by means of his preaching in various churches in Goa and elsewhere.

Fr Moreno was a member of the All India Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, Dalgado Konknni Akademi and Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr. He received numerous awards for his contribution to Konkani from Konknni Bhasha Mandal, Goa, Kala Academy, Gulab as well as Man of the Year award from The Goan Review. Fr Moreno was conferred the prestigious Goa State Cultural Award on February 16, 2007.

Fr. Moreno will be fondly remembered by generations of churchgoers and visitors to the Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, irrespective of their religion. His documentation of the Churches of Goa is a unique contribution that will see reprints long after his memory fades with the passage of time. Surely, his books and his charisma will keep Fr Moreno alive for generations to come.
http://www.goajesuits.in/events/20071014morenodesouza.htm

Distant learning - KONKANI

Distant learning - KONKANI


Christmas and New Year Natalam ani Novem Voros

MAR: How was your Christmas last year Flory?
= Flory, tumchim Natalam kôsim ghêlim ghelea vorsa?

FLO: Very good, I may say. We did everything.
= Egdom bôrim mhunnoieta. Ami sogllem kelem.

MAR: You did everything, what do you mean?
= Tumi sogllem kêlêim, hachi kitem somzonni?

FLO: All what a good Goan ought to do.
= Sogllem eka borea Goemkaran korunk zai tem.

MAR: You mean like making Neureu, Sorpotel, etc?
= Tum mhunntai Nêurêu, Sorpotel, etc. kôrunk?

FLO: Yes, that's a part of it, but there's much more.
= Oi, tem êk bhag tacho, punn tôrii zaitem asa.

MAR: Like making the Crib an the Star?
= Zoxem Gotto ani Neketr korunk?

FLO: That too was done, plus house-decoration.
= Temui kelolem, tea bhair ghor `nêttoilem.

MAR: That's all right. But did you go to midnight mass?
= Tem borem asa. Punn tum môdiani-misak ghelelêim?

FLO: That we did, and with the whole family.
= Tem ami kelam, ani ak'khê familik gheun.

MAR: How very nice. Who prays together, stays together.
= Kaiborem. Konn sangatan magta, sangatan jiveta.

FLO: And what did you do Maria?
= Ani Maria, tuvem kitem kêlêim?

MAR: As we have no children, it was quiet Christmas.
= Amkam bhurgim nam zaun, amchim thôndd Natalam.

FLO: You did nothing at home festive?
= Tuvem kainch festaponn kôrunk naim?

MAR: We bought Chritsmas sweets and food.
= Ami kunsvar and jevon viktem haddlem.

FLO: And did you not make a new dress for you?
= Ani tuvem novo vistidd kôrunk naim tuka?

MAR: I have so many good dreses.
= Mhaka zaite bore vistidd asa.

FLO: I made one for the New Year dance.
= Anvem êk kelo Novea Vorsachea nachak.

MAR: I remember of dances at Catholic Gym..
= Mhaka ugddas ieta nachacho Catholic Gym-antlo.

FLO: In Melbourne too we have good dances.
= Melbourne-antui amkam bore nach asa.

MAR: No doubt. We are lucky to have the Melgoans.
= Dubau nam. Amchem noxib Melgoans asunk.

FLO: Our World Goa Day this year was great!
= Amcho World Goa Day hea vorsa tandd ghelo.

MAR: That's true. Melgoans work very hard for us.
= Tem khorem. Melgoans bhari vavurtat amkam.

FLO: Maria, what's your New Year's prayer?
= Maria, kitem tujem Novea Vorsachem magnnem?

MAR: That God may bless Goa, our Motherland.
= Ki Devan Goa, amchea Maim desar besanv galchem.

FLO: And likewise our families too.
= Ani tosench amche familicher-ui

MAR: There may be Goan unity in Australia.
= Australia-k Goemkaramcho ekvôtt asunk.

FLO: Yes, we need that very much.
= Ôi, tachi amkakam chôdd goroz.

MAR: I wish you a Very Happy New Year.
= Tuka Sôntôs bhorit Novem Voros anvddetam.

FLO: And to Goans the world over.
= Ani Goemkarank akhea sonvsarak

MAR: Let's be Proud to be Goan.
= Patradden ami Goenkar mhunnoiea.

FLO: And let's always speak in Konkani.
= Ani sodanch Konkani ulôuia.


Basilio Magno (Spain)
for January 2008