Konkani textbooks likely to be ready by next year

The work on Konkani textbooks is under way and as per the guidelines of the Directorate of State Education Research and Training (DSERT). The fifth sitting of the textbook committee, set up by DSERT, will be held in Bangalore for two days from August 23, said chairman of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Eric Ozario here on Tuesday.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Ozario said that the DSERT hopes to bring out the textbooks in Kannada script by the beginning of the next academic year.

Content

Asked if there is any move to import Konkani textbooks from Goa, Mr. Ozario said DSERT guidelines did not allow that.

He asserted that the contents of the textbooks will reflect the aspirations of the local Konkani-speaking community.

Most of the content, be it prose or poetry, has been sourced from local Konkani writers, he added.

Stating that the Konkani-speaking community in the world recognise August 20 as "Konkani Manyata Divas" (Konkani recognition day), Mr. Ozario said the academy has decided to observe it in a big way this year.

Celebrations

As many as 35 Konkani organisations in and around Mangalore are cooperating with the academy and a day's programme has been chalked out, he said.

Nearly 100 youth will participate in "Divya Bhovnddi" (rally) on Saturday. The rally, which will start at Bajjodi, will be flagged off formally at Padua here. It will culminate at Don Bosco Hall, where a stage function has been arranged.

The Kushe couple, Madhusudan and Sarojini, will inaugurate the function. Pratap Nayak, head of Thomas Stevens Konkani Centre, Goa, will deliver the keynote address.

A cultural programme by various Konkani-speaking communities will follow, he added.