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Preserve rich oral Konkani literature, urge academics

By January 19, 2019No Comments

Source : Times of India

QUEPEM: Research scholars, professors, educationalists, folklorists who gathered for a seminar on traditional oral literature, emphasized the need for documenting and conducting research to preserve such customs.

The one-day seminar was inaugurated by folk artist, Inacina Fernandes, from the Christian Gawda community and was organised by the Konkani department of the government college of art, science and commerce, Quepem, in association with Sahitya Akademy and Niz Kalakar Ambaulim, and the Quepem multi-purposed co-operative society.

The academics were of the view that preserving Konkani oral literature, especially in remote villages was needed to protect the language and should be done by publishing books, via documentation and using all forms of social media.

Professor Bhushan Bhave, co-ordinator for Konkani advisory board of Sahitya Akademy, highlighted the rich oral literary tradition of Konkani and urged students, researchers to do research and document the folklore as it reflects aspects of Goa’s society and culture.

Konkani writer and media personality, Sandesh Prabhudessai said that the Sahitya Academy had failed to preserve oral literature in Konkani. “Only organising such functions will not help preserve oral literature. The Akademi should act to spread oral literature throughout the Konkani world by publishing books, using social media,” he said.

Principal of government college, Dr Jaideep Battacharya said, “There is a pleasure in reading the language only if there is good quality of literature. It’s high time people start writing.”

Jayanti Nayak, a folk researcher said, “Goa’s rich tradition of folklore extends from Pernem to Canacona. Folk songs reflect socio-cultural facets of Goan community.”

Narayan Desai, an educationalist, was of the view that oral literature should be brought into mainstream literature.

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