Mangaluru: As part of the 15-year tradition of recognizing and honoring young talent in Konkani literature, young poet and short-story writer Glanish Martis of Alangar was conferred with the prestigious Leo Rodrigues Family Kittall Youth Award 2026. The award presentation ceremony was held on Saturday evening at the PFX Saldanha Auditorium, MCC Bank, Hampankatta, where Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur and Konkani supporter Leo Rodrigues presented the award.
On this occasion, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Rev. Fr. Joseph Martis, Parish Priest of Derebail, Anil Lobo, Chairman of MCC Bank, and H. M. Pernal, Editor of Kittall were present. Kittall’s co-editor and poet Wilson Kateel introduced the awardee and read the citation.
Presenting the award, Leo Rodrigues remarked: “The purpose of this award is to instill a sense of responsibility among youth towards their community and literature. In recent times, the number of young people actively contributing to Konkani literature has been declining. Konkani has rich literary resources and many senior, experienced writers among us. If senior writers organize literary or cultural workshops to attract youth towards literature, I will extend my full support.”
The ceremony also honored veteran contributors to Konkani language and arts — Dr. Eugene D’Souza of Moodubelle and Eddi Sequeira of Bendore — on the occasion of their 80th and 75th birthdays, respectively.
Delivering the Chief Guest’s address, Rev. Fr. Joseph Martis quoted Aristotle: “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” He explained that every writer experiences this wonder, which inspires their creativity. “A writer is a mirror to reality, expressing inner reflections through words. A writer never dies; he becomes immortal through his literature,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Glanish Martis acknowledged the inspiration of his mother, father, and grandfather, and expressed gratitude to senior Konkani writers who mentored him. He emphasized that while today’s youth show keen interest in writing, cultivating a reading habit is essential. He noted that amidst the craze for mobile phones, innovative ways must be found to encourage reading among the younger generation. He added that receiving this award has placed greater responsibility upon him to contribute further to the language.
The event was attended by several distinguished personalities, including Poet Melvyn Rodrigues, World Konkani Centre Vice President Ramesh Naik, Poet Kishoo Barkur, Film Director Stany Bela, Fr. Anil Ivan Fernandes, Director of Canara Communication Centre, members of Glanish Martis’s family, and his PhD guide Dr. Santosh L. Gaonkar, among others.