Mangaluru: Senior Advocate and Dakshina Kannada District Government Pleader M.P. Noronha said that literature has a profound influence on society and therefore writers must raise their voices through their literary works whenever people’s rights are under attack.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 5th All India National Charoli Literary Conference held at Sahodaya Hall, Balmatta, Mangaluru. The conference was inaugurated by performing the traditional ceremony of lighting a lamp placed over a brass vessel filled with rice.
Addressing the gathering, Noronha said that literature gives shape to new ideas and plays a vital role in resolving the conflicts and dilemmas of the human mind. He added that true literature reflects fresh thinking and inspires positive social change.
On the occasion, the National Charoli Literary Award was presented to Arundhati V. Rao of Mangaluru and Annie de Colvale of Goa.
Presiding over the conference, Raymond D’Cunha Taccode, President of the 5th National Charoli Conference, said that the participation of Konkani poets from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Dubai, Bengaluru, and Karwar, writing in different scripts and dialects, made the gathering truly special. “This conference is a celebration of Konkani’s unity in India’s diversity,” he remarked.
The poetry session was inaugurated and moderated by Gourish Varnekar, a senior Konkani poet and linguist from Goa.
Inauguration ceremony programme began with a prayer session conducted by Fr. Jerald Lobo, Capuchin, Superior of St. Ann’s Friary. Elias Fernandes, owner of Four Winds Mass Communications & Services, was present on the dais.
During the valedictory session, Srinivas Nayak Indaje, Dakshina Kannada representative of the Karnataka Working Journalists’ Association, attended as the chief guest and presented mementoes and medals to the participating poets.
Yogita Varnekar delivered the valedictory address.
A student–writer interaction on preserving and promoting literature in the future was also held, with participation from students of St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, and Goa.
Senior litterateur Raymond D’Cunha Taccode welcomed the gathering, journalist Riana D’Cunha proposed the vote of thanks, and Prof. Nathalia D’Cunha, senior faculty member at Father Muller Nursing College, compered the programme.
The event was supported by Joan Tauro, Stany Tauro, Lona Vas, Viroy D’Sa, and Herald Albuquerque.