GITA TO BE GUIDE!
While the rest of the world is moving towards Artificial Intelligence the Allahabad University is going back in time. It has been announced that students of management will be taught the Bhagvad-Gita. The presumption is that the Bhagvad Gita is a guide to the management of crisis situations. They may have a point. After all the Bhagvad Gita is about how to handle a war between cousins. Lord Krishna motiviates Arjun to fight reluctantly. Krishna drove the chariot for Arjun and on the first day of the Mahabharat war when Arjun saw the dead bodies of his cousins he wanted to withdraw from the battlefield, but Lord Krishna persuaded him not to and all he said is to be found in the Bhagvad Gita. The Bhagvad Gita is about how to decide and manage crisis situations.
MATCH FIXING
THE Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker has been delaying a decision in the disqualification of the Congress MLAs . It may be recalled that 11 Congress MLAs defected to the BJP more than two years ago. Despite direction of the Supreme Court to the speaker to hold a hearing in the disqualification and resolve it, the speaker failed to do so. According to the BJP government a speaker has to act in a biased manner. The governors are also appointed by the BJP government itself at the Center. In West Bengal, Home Minister Amit Shah appointed a governor who refused to pass bills cleared by the Trinamool-controlled assembly. No wonder governance is at its lowest in Bharatdesh.
TRAINING FOR STREET VENDORS
THE Directorate of Food & Drugs Administration in collaboration with Nestle and NASVI (National Association of Street Food Vendors of India) organized a training program for the street food vendors on November 8, 2023 at the Directorate’s Conference Hall at Bambolim. The program was held to raise awareness and education on food safety practices and hygiene among street food vendors.
This training program is the second edition on the subject of serving safe food. The aim is to train 1,000 street food vendors across Goa. However, only 40 street food vendors were trained. There was an inaugural function at which Director, Food & Drugs Administration Jyoti Sardesai (Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle India), Sanjay Bhandari and Prashant Naik representing NASVI spoke about the importance of hygiene in street food and the benefits street food vendors would obtain from the FoSTaC training. Personal hygiene kits and food safety display boards were distributed ot participants.
2023 KOLAKAR PUROSKAR FOR APOLINARIS D’SOUZA
THE 19th Kølakar Purøskar of the Carvalho household of Kundapura, Karnataka, in association with Mandd Sobhann, Mangaluru, was conferred on Apolinaris D’Souza by Fr Melwyn J Pinto, SJ, the Rector of St Aloysius College, on November 5, 2023 at a public function at Kalaagann, Mangaluru at 6.00 pm. Mandd Sobhann President Louis Pinto, Gurkar Eric Ozario, and other officials of Mandd Sobhann, and the representatives of Carvalho Household Pratap Naik, SJ, Florine Lobo e Carvalho, Sr Edna Furtado, were present.
The program was compered by Arun Raj Rodrigues, the first recipient of Kølakar Purøskar in the year 2005. Konknni singer, lyricist, and composer Apolinaris D’Souza was chosen for this prestigious award comprising of Rs50,000 cash, a shawl, fruits, flowers, citation of honour and a memento was presented on Nov 5 during the 263rd monthly theatre at Kalaangann, Shakthinagar.
Born in 1953, Apolinaris completed his education at St Aloysius College, Mangalore and then travelled to Oman, seeking a job for a better future. He contribution to Konknni music both while in Oman and in Mangalore is tremendous. He participated and won in many singing competitions in his early years and then grew into a popular Konknni singer, songwriter and composer. He has produced 9 audio albums comprising of songs and hymns, and 2 books comprising of songs and music. He has also created over 250 videos of Konknni and English hymns for his YouTube Channel. The hymns he composed when religious liturgy transitioned from using Latin to Konknni, are popular to date. “Møn’dirant Bhitør Sørun,” “Ørgam Tuka Somiya,” “Ye Ye Jezu Mogalla,” “Unddya Vayna Søvem,” “Vetam Somiya,” “Sasnnacho Vishev” are among his popular compositions.
The honour of organizing the first Konknni programme in Muscat, back in 1976 goes to him. He has also organized “Apoli Night.” He has given his service as the choir master at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Ruwi for nearly 20 Years. He has greatly served MKCC and MCCP Organizations in Oman. He has judged many Music Competitions and has also encouraged many blooming talents.
Apolinaris has been chosen for this honour in appreciation of his immense contribution in the field of Konknni lyrics and music for over five decades. The Kølakar Purøskar was founded in 2005 by the linguist Pratap Naik, SJ under the name of his Carvalho household of Kundapura. It is presented every year to a Konknni individual of Karnataka region in recognition of his/her achievements in the field of Konknni music, dance, theatre, folklore, and cinema.
The recipients of this award so far, are Arun Raj Rodrigues (Theatre), Joel Pereira (Music), Harry D’Souza (Brass Band), Fr. Charles Vas, SVD (Devotional Music), Anuradha Dhareshwar (Music), Sant Bhadragiri Achut Das (Harikatha), James Lopes (Brass Band), Norbert Gonsalves (Instrumental music), Francis Fernandis Cascara, Mumbai (Theatre), Roshan D’Souza (Music), Christopher D’Souza (Theatre), Avil D’Cruz (Dance), M. Gopala Gowda, (Folk-art), Avitas Adolfus Cutinha, popularly known as Dolla Mangaluru (Theatre), Irene Rebello (Wedding songs), Anitha D’Souza (Singing), Nihal Tauro (Singing), Melwyn Peris (Music), and Apolinaris D’Souza(Music).
Every year, the award function is held at outdoor stadium. This year due to rain, the programme was held inside the hall. Friends of Mandd Sobhann and Apolinaris D’Souza were present for the event. It was supposed to be followed by 263rd monthly theatre. Kalakul Theatre Troupe, Mangaluru were ready to present “Chekov to Champagne” Konknni play based on the stories of the famous Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov (1860-1904). The original Kannada play was written by Hema Pattannashetty and Konknni translation was by Arun Raj Rodrigues. It has been directed by Viddu Uchchil and Jeevan Siddhi. But due to rain the play was cancelled. It will be presented after two weeks.
(Contributed by Pratap Naik, SJ)
200 BOOKS PASS FOR GOVERNOR!
VISITING Vice-President of India Jagdeep Shankar was in Goa on November 9, 2023 for the concluding ceremony of the 27th National Games. While here he emphasised the need to have meaningful and fruitful dialogues, deliberations, discussion and debate to strengthen democracy of the nation. This was while he was addressing the gathering after releasing the 200th book “Vaman Vriksha Kala” (Malayalam) authored by Governor of Goa PS Sreedharan Pillai at New Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan.
The book release ceremony marked the golden jubilee celebration of the Goa governor’s literary activities and amongst those who attended were Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Member of Parliament Dr PT Usha and Goa’s Jnanpith Laureate Damodar Mauzo. First Lady Reetha Pillai also graced the occasion.
Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar further observed in his address that that creativity may just come but to sustain creativity is a difficult task. In this respect the governor’s book “Vaman Vriksha Kala” reminds us about civilisation, values and wisdom, which are reflected in our ancient Vedas. He praised the writing skills of Governor Pillai, a prolific writer with 130 books in Malayalam and 70 books in English, on subjects ranging from history, law and politics to economy and social affairs.
`Vaman Vriksha Kala’ is a monograph focusing on the art of bonsai, that is potted trees in miniature. Interestingly, the book brings out the fact that the art of bonsai is originally an Indian art as against the widely held belief that it belongs to China and Japan. The author provides evidence from ancient Sanskrit texts to establish this claim and provides convincing answers as to why our ancestors reduced trees to miniature beauties in pots. The book marks 50 years of Governor Pillai’s extraordinary journey into contributing to the country’s literature. There is a bonsai garden at the instance of the governor at the Raj Bhavan.
The governor in his speech highlighted the values of literature and observed that in every forest you will find a mother tree which keeps communicating with surrounding trees, all this is held under the roots and this is scientifically proven. He said that while travelling in Goa he got many ideas in how to communicate with the people. Others who added to the happy day were Chief Minister Dr Pramod, who shared that PS Sreedharan Pillai started his writing career in 1973 by writing articles, stories, poems and his first publication in 1985 is titled “Rent Laws of Kerala.”
The rest is history or so to speak and the author crossed a milestone with his Malayalam book “Pazhassi Smriti” released in 2010 by then President of India Pratibha Patil. His 100th book “Dark Days of Democracy” was released by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in 2018 and the next 100 books have come in an incredible short span of five years. This is because during the Covid pandemic of two years the author devoted his entire time and energy to writing. MKRM Rao, IAS, Secretary to Governor welcomed all the guests at the special literary function.
GOA PARTICIPATES IN IITF
GOA will be participating in the much awaited upcoming 42nd edition of India International Trade Fair to be held at the refurbished Pragati Maidan in the national capital, New Delhi from 14 to 27, 2023. The IITF theme this year is Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (United by Trade). The Department of the Information & Publicity, nodal agency of Goa will disseminate information through different modes of communication in this annual mega trade fair where every Indian state showcases itself.
Other countries participate in this fair. Along with DIP others participating from Goa will be Tourism, GTDC, Industries, Trade and Commerce, GIDC, Department of Handicrafts, Textile and Coir, Goa Investment Promotion Facilitation Board and so on. DIP director, Dipak Bandekar, will inaugurate the Goa Pavilion set up on 100 sq mts space earmarked by ITPO in Hall 3 (New Hall).
This year the Goa Pavilion will focus on Goa’s rich cuisine and the courteous hospitality of Goan people, along with the state’s achievements through audio, video presentations, with hoardings and photographic displays. Goan artisans through the Department of Handicrafts, Textile & Coir will sell their traditional Goan products/items at Goa Pavilion. Only traditional products will feature during the 14 day fair where is a platform for interaction between producers, buyers and consumers.
Other highlights and sidelights: Goan artistes will be performing daily to enthral visitors and give them an idea of Goa’s distinctive cultural traditions. It may be noted that Pragati Maidan, once home to numerous exhibitions, trade fairs and conventions, has now been elevated to an international landmark. Similarly, the refurbished Pragati Maidan’s India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) complex in Delhi has undergone an impressive transformation. Be there if you want to be to follow India’s amrit kaal story of success and prosperity!