Mangalore: ’Yes, I am a Dalit’ - Fr. Denis Castelino
By Alphonse Medonsa
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Mangalore, 02 Nov 2013: “Yes I am a Dalit - not by caste but by oppression. I was oppressed throughout my life and grown into a touch wood. It was first Fr Mark Walder, former editor of ‘Raknno’ who published my writings and now H. M . Pernal, editor of kittall.com who identified the spark in my writings and gave a new lease of life to my writings. I feel extremely happy in the company stalwarts of Konkani literature and continue my writings till time and my health permits me to do so” said Fr. Denis Castelino.
He was expressing his feelings after the release of maiden book of essays in Konkani PALLAM ANI MULLAM at Milagres Parish Hall at Mangalore.
The 100 pages book containing total 6 essays released by Fr Mark Walder former editor of Raknno, Konkani weekly.
In his address, elaborating various stages in kannada literature in which he holds a Masters degree, Fr Walder said he finds elements of dalit writings in Fr Denis Writings.
The booked is published by Evershine Prakashan owned by Mr. Canute J Pinto, Kelarai , now in Abu Dhabi. Critic and editor of Konkani literary web portal kittall.com, H M Pernal is the editor of Evershine Prakashan.
Sahitya Akademi award winning poet and President of Kavita Trust Melvyn Rodrigues launched logo of Evershine Prakashan.
In his address Melvyn said “ Fr. Denis’ book Pallam ani Mullam based on true life stories of parents and his close associates during his life time. So in a way it is a work of autobiography or life sketches. The book also focuses on life style, family bond, customs, traditions, hardships faced by our ancestors in their survival. So it can be called a collection of essays.”
Poet Melvyn said “ Two incidents still haunt him from the book and there are many such incidents in the books remain haunting. The book is very rich in terms of literary values”
He remarked that“ Work of the publisher should not stop at mere printing and publishing the book. We need to create readers to the book”
The programme began with a prayer.
Titus Noronha, MD , Rahul Group and Kittall Advisory Board Member introduced the guests and welcomed the gathering.
Kittall Advisory board members, William Pais, Leslie Rego, Hemacharya, Pinto Vamanjoor welcomed the guests with flower bouquets.
H M Pernal, Editor of Evershine Prakashan briefed about Evershine Publishers. He said “ I was just thinking of publishing Fr. Denis book and as a coincidence got a call from my close friend and former editor of Amcho Yuvak Canute Pinto saying he want me to continue the work done by him under Evershine Publishers when he was here in Mangalore. I explained him about Fr Denis book and he agreed to the proposal. In a year Evershine will publish total 4 books in Konkani to support Konkani writers.”
Rohan Monteiro (MD, Rohan Corporation) who is also Kittall Advisory Board Member presided the programme and distributed complimentary copies.
In his concluding remarks , Orchid Art Gallery Director and Kittall Advisory board member, William Pais said “ If the title of the book wasn’t Pallam ani Mullam, Padryabachem Patak Natullem Sutavem Kumsaar would have appropriate.
William Pais proposed vote of thanks and Flora Castelino, editor of Milarchem Milan conducted the program.
Many senior writers and Rev Fr John Fernandes, Rev Fr Wilson V D Souza, Rev Fr Valerian D Souza, Wilson D Souza of Kalmady were present among dignitaries.
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Konkani Literature World
Dear Fr.Denis congratulations to you for your first book Palam ani mulam.It’s wonderful konkani language.
Some months back when Dr William da Silva visited me in Dubai, he was looking for an external hard drive to store his numerous literary works and I had a non-performing 2TB HD at home which he repaired and took away. In return, when I visited him along with Fr Denis in September, he presented me with a copy of his Konkani translation of the Holy Bible. On my return to Dubai, I started reading the Holy Book and was about to complete reading the first book (Genesis), savouring every bit of the new found beauty of the original Konkani language, a complimentary copy of the book ’PALLAN ANI MULLAN’ was delivered to me ’courtesy’ Fr Denis. I completed reading it in one sitting. The style of writing of the first two articles was very much similar to that of the Book of Genesis. As Fr Denis says that they were copied from his diary, they are like the memoirs of a son about his farming father and mother. As in the book of Genesis, names of the women are mentioned rarely and selectively although they had a very important role to play in the family. That is my impression being a part of the undivided family for the last sixty years or so and so I can vouch for the veracity of the events Fr Denis has mentioned in his memoirs. In this present world only sentiments, feelings and ambitions will lead you nowhere unless you have financial and moral support and as a priest, you will get it from your superiors only if you are a sycophant and not a revolutionary! The events mentioned in the book took me back to my childhood days and made me nostalgic. As far as the language used is concerned, there is room for improvement. A careful proof reading is required before a reprint. The only bus service we had from Karkal to Dendurkatte via Moodubelle and later to Udupi was not Shri Manjunath Motor Service, but Shri Krishna Motor Service and the driver was Sikeram (Mr. Sequeira) from Karkal. Shri Manjunath Motor Service and Shankar Vittal Motor Service were running on Udupi – Alevoor route. The life of a farmer as narrated by Fr Denis is not unique to Catholics only. But the Catholic marriage celebrations were unique for all the Catholic farming families which require deep research and documentation before they fade away from our memories. I can feel the hurt in him when he compares present day weddings to those of early years. The so called Catholic Konkani culture lovers should concentrate on these matters rather than force the couples to do a ’film shooting’ of the wedding events like ’Roce’ etc and collect money from them. Overall, the book is hi(s)story ’ a life story of his parents as farmers, struggling to survive just like any other farmers in those days, full of feelings, respect for the elders and understanding their day-to-day struggles. While the first two articles are back bone of the book, the rest are complimentary, in the sense that one describes the life long journey of a physically challenged (in this case his brother), another is an obituary of his close and loving aunt, another a tribute to a person who dedicated his entire life to serve the community and yet another the success story of his friendship with his school mates and close friends. So, the book does not entertain us in anyway; but presents before us the life’s values our elders loved and practiced for generations.