Mangaluru : Five renowned Konkani achievers conferred with Vishwa Konkani Awards at T V Raman Pai Convention Hall, Kodialbail, Mangalore here on Thursday, Nov 6.

Fr. Mark Walder of Erstwhile editor of Rakno was awarded Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Lifetime Achievement Award for Konkani literature. Sanjiv Verenkar bagged Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Poetry Award and Edwin J F D’Souza conferred with Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar for his novel ‘Kalem Bhangar’, Mandarke Madhav Pai and Dr Meena R Chandavarkar conferred with Basti Vaman Shenoy Vishwa Konkani Seva Awards.

Mandharke contributed to Konkani language, Halegannada Vachana Sahithya and Konkani translation. Dr Chandavarkar contributed in the education sector and also for being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of a University.

These two awards carry a purse of Rs 1 lac apart from a citation. The Vimala V Pai awards, which is sponsored by the Chairman of Manipal Global Education T V Mohandas Pai carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs one lac.

President of Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation Basti Vaman Shenoy, Vasanthi Ramdas Pai, Dr. M Balasubrahmanya, Venkatesh Baliga, P Ramesh Pai and C D Kamath and others were present.

As part of cultural programme ‘Volaru’ a Konkani dance drama was presented by Goshree Kala Sangha, Kochi.