Mangalore, Jan 20, 2014 : All India Konkani Writers’ Organisation (AIKWO), promoted by Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (JKS) was formed at Kalaangann, Makale, here on Sunday January 19.
Fifty-seven Konkani writers from Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, who had assembled, became members of the All India Konkani Writers’ Organisation. After passing the Constitution, the Executive Committee was elected. The members elected to the Executive Committee: Vincy Quadros, Goa, Jose Salvadore Fernandes, Goa, Alvaro Gomes, Goa, Selza Lopes, Goa, Guadalupe Dias, Goa, Dr Edward Nazareth, Mangalore, Irene Rebello, Mangalore, Richard Moras, Mangalore, Professor Stephen Quadros, Honnavar, Valerian D’Souza (Vally Vagga), Mysore, Ancy D’Souza Paladka, Mumbai, K Vishwanathan, Kerala, K K Madhavan, Kerala.
The organisation was officially launched by displaying the name of the organisation, written in all the 5 scripts of Konkani – Kannada, Roman, Devanagari, Malayalam and Perso - Arabic. This All India Organisation of Konkani Writers’ was formed on the principles of ‘Respect for every script’ and ‘Unity in diversity.’
Guinness World Record holder swimmer Gopal Kharvi, a Konkani, was felicitated on the occasion, with a shawl, garland, fruits, Citation Certificate and Rs 50,500 cash, contributed by members of JKS.
The newly elected Executive Committee met to – co-opt members to the Executive Committee, elect the Office Bearers and chalk-out the Plan of Action. The co-opted were Eric Ozario, Mangalore (representing JKS, the promoters), Victor Mathias, Mangalore, Marcus Gonsalves, Goa and Walter Menezes, Goa.
The Office Bearers – Vincy Quadros, Goa (president), Valerian D’Souza (Vally Vagga), Mysore (vice president – Karnataka), Jose Salvador Fernandes, Goa (vice president – Goa), Ancy D’Souza Paladka, Mumbai (vice president – Maharashtra), K Vishwanathan, Kerala ( vice president – Kerala), Dr Edward Nazareth, Mangalore (general secretary), Guadalupe Dias, Goa (associate secretary), Richard Moras, Mangalore (treasurer) and Professor Stephen Quadros (PRO).
The Executive Committee chalked-out the following Plan of Action – to organise 4 Konkani literary Conferences – one each in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, to institute 2 Awards of Rs 1 lac each for the literature in Roman and Kannada script. These Awards will be awarded at the Goa Sahithya Sommellan, by the end of this year, to give 2 grants of Rs 25,000 each, for the printing of one book each, in the Malayalam and the Perso - Arabic script, to publish a book containing poems, written in all the 5 scripts, by the poets of that script and dialect.