Global Goemkars !! Mangalore: Global Konkani Organization to be Launched on Aug 20 Special Correspondent Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore Mangalore, Jun 13: Mandd Sobhann, the premier Konkani Cultural Organization which has been doing yeoman’s service in preserving, popularizing and showcasing to the entire world the beauty and variety of Konkani culture is embarking on another historic step by launching the Jatatik Konkani Sanghattan (Global Konkani Organization). This Global organization would be launched on August 20, 2011 at Kalangann, while celebrating “World Konkani Day”, to mark Konkani Recognition Day (Konkani Manyatha Divas). Mandd Sobhann says the launching of Jagatik Konkani Sanghatan (JKS) on World Konkani day will be a significant step befitting the grandeur and stature of getting recognition to Konkani. The Jagatik Konkani Sanghatan promoted by Mandd Sobhann is formed in order to represent Konkani people and to forge unity in diversity among various Konkani speaking people in the true spirit of Indian culture and to promote Konkani cause at the global, national and local levels all over the globe. Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann Eric Ozario delineating the objectives of JKS to daijiworld.com says “Our mantra is to represent varieties and seek unity in diversity. Respect for creeds, regions and dialects are what we are aiming through JKS. We have variety and now we seek unity in this diversity. Respect for every variety and unity in diversity are the basic principles that guide us”, he declared. JKS is promoted by Mandd Siobhan with the principle object of representing Konkani people of all regions, dialects, castes and creeds and to represent Konkani issues pertaining to them at the global level. It is also aimed at preserving and enriching Konkani language, culture and literature in all its beauty and variety and also to ensure transmission of the rich Konkani heritage to future generations. Eric says the need to have a Konkani organization of world stature is felt all the more because he says we do not have any organization at the international level to represent the cause of Konkani. “Konkani Diaspora is spread all over the globe including in countries like New Zealand, Slovakia, Ireland, Iceland and in every nook and corner of this globe. During the 25 day World Konkani Cultural Convention we organized last year we have come in contact with myriad Konkani organizations and bodies and realized the need and importance of forming an organization having a global reach. This is now getting fructified in the form of JKS. JKS aims to provide global leadership to Konkani people and issues”, he explained. “It is a momentous occasion, a step forward in the right direction because we don’t have a Konkani organization of global stature and people around the world say this is a great job and we need to come together for promoting Konkani. JKS is going to fill this vacuum and forge unity among diverse Konkani speaking people ’, Eric stated The entry to KJS is open to all Konkani cultural, social and literary bodies/organizations/ institutions/associations, big or small. It do not entail joining or amalgamation to form one organization. These institutions would retain their identity and functions independently despite joining JKS. The draft constitution has been formed in consultation with a think-tank involving 16 people and this has been circulated to all organizations all over the world. The think-tank is going to meet on 19th June, 2011 to prepare a final draft on the basis of the feedback received from these organizations or associations. Eric says that the draft constitution has received an overwhelming response from Konkani organizations from various parts of the globe. Interested organizations or associations can join JKS as probable members, or by sending their representatives for the First Global General Assembly and also to join in the celebrations of “World Konkani Day” on August 20, 2011. The first Global General Assembly of JKS is scheduled to be held on August 20, 2011 at Kalangann in order to pass and adopt the constitution, to finalize the plan of action for the ensuing term and also to elect office bearers to lead the Jagatik Konkani Sanghatan with the dynamism and vitality required to run an institution of global stature. Once JKS is established, JKS would become an independent body and Mandd Sobhann would continue its association as a member of JKS, Eric Ozario said. . Kalaakul To provide a fillip to Konkani theatre Mandd Sobhann has come out with “Kalaakul”, a part-time theatre repertory where it offers part time jobs for Konkani speaking people interested in theatre. “Kalaakul” is the result of efforts and experiments of more than a decade to provide an impetus to Konkani theatre which has been on the verge of vanishing. “Kalaalkul” has become a reality due to the concerted efforts to give a shot in the arm to Konkani theatre. Kalaakul aims to train interested Konkani artistes to train in Konkani and also to act in Konkani plays in the form of part time jobs. Eric Ozaric is euphoric at the response he has received from Konkani theatre enthusiasts to Kalaakul. The last date for receiving the applications is June 20, 2011 but already Mandd Sobhann has received 12 applications and more applications are expected in the days to come. Mandd Sobhann plans to train 10 boys or girls in theatre for a minimum of one year and they are expected to work 5 days a week from 6pm to 8.30 pm at Kalaangann. These artistes will be paid a monthly salary of Rs. 2500/- to start with and more whenever the play is staged. Mandd Sobhann plans to provide boarding facility also to these theatre artistes at Kalaangann, if they wish. “We have asked for one year’s commitment from prospective students as otherwise our efforts will come to a nought”, Eric stated. Mandd Sobhann’s earlier efforts in rejuvenating Konkani theatre were nullified due to non-availability of trained personnel to train artistes in theatre. It now got a boost the availability of Neenasam trained theatre graduate, Clifford D Souza, a committed Konkani theatre artiste, who has been roped in by Mandd Sobhann to train probable Konkani artistes. With the main lacunae of training taken care, Eric Ozario says “Mandd Sobhann plans to present at least 5 plays a year and every play will be played at least 5 times in different places to rekindle Konkani people’s interest in theatre. They can also take up government sponsored theatre activities like street plays which will offer abundant scope for their creativity”. For long Mandd Sobhann has felt that Konkani theatre is not in the same league as that of Marathi or Kannada theatre and was concerned about the level or quality of Konkani theatre and even tried setting up a full time college of theatre. Though a 3 year course was finalized and about 12 students (outstation) got admitted it was shelved due to lack of availability of trained teachers. “The tragedy was that these artistes were trained by people who are not trained in that particular field. As a result quality had to be compromised. Though we tried bringing NSD trained teachers but did not succeed”, Eric recalls. Mandd Sobhann had also conducted many workshops for directors and created a “Natak Bhandar” (treasure of scripts). The trained directors were asked to pick a script and come out with a play and Mandd Sobhann even agreed to back up their first play. But nothing came out of such efforts as none took up the challenge of staging a play. Eric says “Mandd Sobhann feels that Konkani theatre is the weakest link as compared to Konkani music and dance as far as Konkani culture is concerned and we plan to bridge that weakest link by giving more strength to it”. Kalaakul will certainly be a dream come true for enthusiastic and passionate Konkani theatre activists who have been on the lookout for such an opportunity. Also see: Mandd Sobhann's Historic 'World Konkani Cultural Convention' :Complete Coverage ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 WORLD GOA - KONKANI DAY -20TH of AUGUST, EVERY YEAR. GOAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DAY 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
