Mangaluru: The coastal region of Mangaluru, being an amalgamation of various cultures, has achieved solidarity through linguistic harmony, stated Kannada University, Hampi, former vice chancellor and folklore scholar Prof B A Viveka Rai.

He was speaking after conferring the Vishwa Konkani Awards on achievers at Shri Sudhindra Hall in Canara Girls’ High School, Dongarakeri, Mangaluru, during a programme organised by the Vishwa Konkani Kendra and Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation on Monday.

“It is a misconception that a variety of languages and cultures within a region could turn out to be hurdle for unity. This notion compelled some communities to form lands of their own, dealing with one language and one culture. But, it had only political implications,” said Rai.

He said that Mangaluru has laid down the best example for ‘unity through linguistic harmony’. “Here, we find a beautiful blend of various dialects of Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and Beary languages. Konkani, as a language spoken by the sub-communities of Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions, has formed an emotional bonding among people,” he explained.

Rai further said that the stalwarts with Konkani as their mother tongue – such as Gulwadi Venkat Rao, Panje Mangesh Rao, M Govinda Pai, M N Kamath and Kudpi Vasudeva Shenoy – have contributed immensely to Kannada literature.

Terming the Vishwa Konkani Award function being organised in the 126 year old Canara High School to be the most acknowledging one, Rai recalled that Mahatma Gandhi visited Canara High School in 1927 and 1934.

Manipal Global Education chairperson T V Mohandas Pai felt for a need to make the young generation akin to the indigenous culture. Raising concern over the diminishing usage of mother tongue owing to the effect of globalisation, he asserted that unless the parents make their wards speak in their mother tongue, the language and culture cannot be preserved for the next generations.

Vishwa Konkani Kendra president Basti Vaman Shenoy, Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund chairperson Ramdas Kamath U, Vishwa Konkani Kendra vice presidents Venkatesh N Baliga and Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, secretaries B Prabhakar Prabhu and Shakuntala R Kini and Award Jury Committee member C D Kamath were present.

Vishwa Konkani Awards 2017 Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar was awarded to Gajanan Jog for his collection of Konkani short stories ‘Khand ani her katha’ and Wilson Kateel for his anthology of Konkani poems ‘Encounter’. Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Jeevan Siddhi Samman, the lifetime achievement award was conferred on Dr Tanaji Halarnkar for contributions towards Konkani language movement. Basti Vaman Shenoy Vishwa Konkani Seva Puraskar was awarded to Dr G Nagendra Prabhu for exemplary service in the field of Science and Research and to Dr Usha S Heranjal for exemplary service in the field of healthcare.