Mangaluru: Utsav 2025 - Grand celebration of Marcel D’Souza’s literary legacy

Media Release

Mangaluru, 04 Mar 2025: The air was thick with nostalgia and joy as eminent Konkani writer Marcel D’Souza (Machcha Milaar) hosted "Utsav 2025", a grand event marking three significant milestones in his literary journey. The evening saw the 10th anniversary of Angel Communication, the 20th anniversary of Genesis Prakashan, and the celebration of his 70th birthday, bringing together family, friends, and literary enthusiasts to honor his contributions to Konkani literature.

 

 

A literary stalwart: Marcel D’Souza (Machcha Milaar)

 

A name synonymous with the evolution of Konkani literature, "Machcha Milaar" has been a guiding force in preserving and promoting the language. His works, spanning poetry, prose, and critical essays, have shaped contemporary Konkani literature, earning him the "Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Award 2023" in November 2024. From his early days as a passionate writer to becoming a widely respected literary figure, his journey has been marked by relentless dedication to the language and its literary expression.

 

His path to the Sahitya Award was paved with 50 years of writing that resonated deeply with readers. His thought-provoking essays, evocative poetry, and compelling narratives have not only entertained but also educated, instilling a renewed sense of pride in Konkani literature.

 

Angel communication: A decade of banking business

 

Founded by Marcel D’Souza in 2014, Angel Communication has been a beacon for migrated labourers providing a banking service for transfer of funds. Over the years, it has given good customer service and developed good relationship with customers and won the trust of the customers for the past 10 years. His past and present staff were honored by him on this occasion.

 

Genesis Prakashan: 20 Years of publishing excellence

 

Established in *2004, Genesis Prakashan has played a pivotal role in publishing quality Konkani literature. Specialising in fiction, poetry, and literary criticism, it has been instrumental in keeping Konkani literature alive in a rapidly changing world. Under Marcel D’Souza’s guidance, this publication contributed significantly to the growth of Konkani literature and pubished 16 books upto 2024. Five translated books in Konkani were released on this occasion.

 

An evening of poetry and celebration

 

Adding to the festivities, the literary group "Poetica", led by Naveen Pereia Surathkal, captivated the audience with their humour-laced Konkani poetry. Their lively performances sent waves of laughter through the crowd, proving that Konkani poetry remains as vibrant as ever.

 

The evening concluded with an interactive voting session, where the audience crowned the best performance of the night, and awarded prize money to Richie Pereira making "Utsav 2025" a truly memorable event.

 

As the celebrations drew to a close, it was evident that Marcel D’Souza’s (Machcha, Milaar) influence on Konkani literature and his legacy continues to inspire, ensuring that Konkani thrives for generations to come.

 

Marcel D’Souza welcomed and his wife proposed the vote of thanks. The programne was compered by Nisha Menezes.