We should inculcate love for our regional language: Kripa Alva

Mangaluru: Addressing as the chief guest for the Konkani children’s day organized by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in the Lions Seva Mandir in the city today, former lions governor Ln. Kripa Alva said, "Marking this children’s day special by making it the first Konkani Children’s day for the little one's to celebrating their day by celebrating their mother tongue is creation of history and this indeed is a great opportunity given by the Konkani Sahitya academy and I am thankful to them’’

“In India we parents due to the westernization have been cultivating English atmosphere in our household. We have taught them to say Mummy and Daddy instead of teaching them to converse in our respective mother tongues. In foreign countries like Japan and Germany, people are patriotic towards their country and mother tongue. Hence they converse in their mother tongue even though they know the foreign languages. We should inculcate the love for our language, our rich culture and world famous heritage and love for our country in our children.”

 Addressing children in particular she said “Don’t be greedy. Learn humane values. This will make you a good human being”. She later on also handed over the prizes of the Konkani talent show competition organized for lower primary and higher primery children. The editor of Rakno and Kazulo, two Konkani magazines Fr. Francis Rodrigues, who was honoured for his work towards Konkani juvenile literature through the Konkani children’s monthly ‘Kazulo’ thanked the organizers for the recognition.

 He said “Modernization has taken away the natural life of children from them. Heavy bags have affected their free thinking while stress of curriculum has not let children spend time for themselves.” In his rhyming words he concluded saying ‘morning coaching and evening teaching’ there is no time for the children to spend time for themselves. And he later thanked the academy for recognising the ‘Kazulo’ monthly as the only childrens monthly in Konkani language.

 The President of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and the president of the program Roy Castelino in this welcome address explained the importance of the Konkani Language. “Konkani is the only language which is the mother tongue of people of three religion and written in five scripts. Hence we should be proud of ourselves. Since this is a National language we should not hesitate to speak in Konkani in our house hold.”

 On the occasion two Konkani books of Juvenile literature were inaugurated. ‘Bhangaraso Keer’ written by JF Attavar was inaugurated by Melrida Rodrigues, the president of ICYM Mangalore Diocese while the book ‘Jaadooso Dhola' translated by Gauri Mallya was inaugurated by CP Dinesh, the president of Lions club Mallikatte. While the authors expressed words of gratitude, the inaugurators appreciated the efforts of Academy and the authors. The registrar of the academy rendered the vote of thanks while Eric Soans Barkoor compeered the program.

 In the talent competition held for the lower primary school children, St. Ann’s school Kelrai bagged the first prize while the Gonzaga school Mangaluru bagged the second prize. In the higher primary section Sacred heart School, Madantyar bagged the first prize while Morning star school, Bajpe bagged second. In total 20 schools from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts participated in the competition.