All India Konkani poetry contest winners announced

Kavita Trust, which works for the promotion of Konkani poetry, has announced the names of prize winners of its tenth All India Konkani Poetry Writing competition.

Kannada author and critic Narendra Pai will distribute prizes on November 6 during a programme to be held at World Konkani Centre in Mangaluru.

Andrea Menezes, tenth standard student of Our Lady of the Rosary High School, Dona Paula, Goa, has won the first prize. Her poem ‘Kanni Maddachi’ (Story of a coconut tree) has been chosen for its contemporary theme. The government of Goa, last year, through an amendment to Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 withdrew the status of a 'tree' given to coconut tree, which resulted in lot of uproar in the state. Fearing it will be cut by everyone, the tree requests people to rescue it from the dangers of getting extinct at least in Goa.

Sanika Pawar, a class seven student of Sarvodadaya Educational Society’s High School, Curchorem, Goa, has won the second prize for her poem ‘Mhaka Dista’ (I feel). The poem has been chosen for its simple, but powerful imagery to depict the tiny but selfless, expectations of a child.

Three students have been chosen for the third prize. They are Khyathi Nayak, 8th class student of Canara High School, Dongerkeri, Mangaluru, for his poem ‘Megelo Aan’ (My father), Savari Phal Desai, class seven student of Holy Cross Institute, Quepem, Goa, for her poem ‘Kira Kira’ (Parrot) and Rahi Gaonkar, 8th class student of Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Valpoi, Sattari, Goa, for her poem ‘Nhoim’ (The river).

While the winners will get cash prizes, certificates and mementos, all the 241 participants from Karnataka, Goa and Kerala will be sent certificates of appreciation.

The competition is held every year in the memory of late Charles and Teresa Rodrigues, parents of Kavita Trust’s founder Melvyn Rodrigues. In the past ten years, 1,889 students have taken part in this competition.