Mangaluru: Vimala V. Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar, the annual literary awards for Konkani Literature instituted by World Konkani Centre for the year 2022 have been announced by The Konkani Bhas ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru.
Tichi Kanni (तिचीकाणी), a collection of three Konkani long stories by Dr. Jayanti Naik which are central around women as the Best Konkani Book of the Year (Prose) for Vimala V. Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar 2022;
Bhitarlo Kavi (भितरलोकवी) a collection of Konkani poems by Valley Quadros has been selected as the Best Konkani Book of the Year (Poetry)for Vimala V. Pai Vishwa Konkani KavitaKruti Puraskar 2022.
Manikrao Gawanekar, Goa has been identified as the recipient of Vimala V. Pai Vishwa Konkani Jeevan Siddhi Samman 2022 for his life time contribution to the Konkani Language and Literary Movement.
The Awards carry a Prize money of Rs. 1.00 Lakh each along with an award memento which will be bestowed on the recipient at the Annual Vishwa Konkani Puraskar Ceremony to be held on 9th February 2022 at 10.00 a.m. at the World Konkani Centre. The awards have been sponsored by T.V. Mohandas Pai in the name of his beloved mother Vimala V. Pai, and are awarded every year since 2010.
The awards are based on a two tier evaluation process: Firstly, Preliminary Panel consisting of 16 referees recommends the Books short listed from among the published books during the award period. Based on these recommendations, a Five Member Jury makes the final selections for the award.
Award Jury for the year 2022, consisting of Adv. Uday Bhembre, Dr. Kiran Budkuley, Payyanur Ramesh Pai, Melwyn Rodrigues and Gokuldas Prabhu deliberated on the recommendations of referees and made the final selection based on merit of the literary works in question.
World Konkani Centre founded by Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, a premier Konkani organisation established in the year 1996 in the leadership of Vishwa Konkani Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy, has been relentlessly working towards preservation of Konkani Language and Culture since inception.
The information has been issued by Nandagopal Shenoy, President, Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru.