Goa is no longer the same as gone are the days when one would sleep with their doors open, we learn from the mistakes said chief guest, Bhikaji Ghanekar while speaking at the ‘Gõy Mogacho Kovita Utsav (poetry Convention) that was organised by Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) to Mark Goa Statehood Day on May 30 in Panaji. Ghanekar said that it is interesting to note that Goa and Portugal have a lot in common. Both the places, Goa and Portugal, have 11 rivers and 11 taluka which is interesting.” He further took the audience on a figurative ride across Goa with his humorous poem titled “Kadamba”.
The event had in participation poets from across Goa who presented their poems on a common theme Goa. Also present were president of DKA, Tomazinho Cardozo, Secretary, Vincy Quadros and Treasurer of DKA, Celso Fernandes. Cardozo in his address said that Goa has changed over the last 30 years and questioned whether this change is good or bad. All the poems are based on Goa which will bring forth poets opinions and views. Some people have seen Goa change, others have adjusted with the change while the rest feel that Goa should be governed in a certain way, says Cardozo. He spoke about how people are hesitant to buy or spend on Konkani literature and DKA’s initiative to increase Konkani readership. To encourage sales and readership of Konkani content the travel allowance that poets used to get to attend the convention will now be given in the form of a ‘Gulab’ magazine copy. The idea behind doing so it to enable Konkani literature to reach a larger section of the population said Cardozo.
The poets who presented their poems included Silvestrina Pereira, Rena D’Souza, Sabdhya Fernandes, Ana Tereza Rodrigues, Behinda Fernandes, Liby Mendonca, Saraswati Naik, Vinda Naik, Mathew De Souza, Menino Almeida, Anthony Miranda, Annie Fernandes, J P Fernandes, Pio Esteves, Nutan Dabholkar, Kavita Pereira, Jerome Succor Alphonso, Rackson Fernandes, Cipriano Fernandes, Michelle Coutinho, Sonia Gomes, Subhash Shah, Soniya Shah, Shobha Fulkar, Alvaro Gomes, Narayan Khorjuvenkar, Prasad Sawant, Daniel De Souza, Joseph Pinto and Edwin Fernandes.
The poets expressed their views on Goa after its 30 years dedicated their poems to statehood while others spoke about how Goa has changed with regard to the developments and destruction of the ecology in the name of improvement. Some articulated their views about Goa as a beautiful sate with plenty of bounty and one blessed with rivers, streams, forests, wildlife and more. Though their poems they highlighted that these resources have to be protected and if the human race continues to use these resources at such an alarming rate nothing will be left for the future generation. On a lighter note, Pio Esteves enthralled the audience with soothing music that was accompanied by a guitar and mouth organ.
Vincy Quadros compered the function and Celso Fernandes proposed vote of thanks.
