World Konkani Day (Konkani: Vishwa Konkani Dis) has been celebrated on 1 August every year since 2015.[1] It is in remembrance of Konkani activist, Shenoi Goembab[2][3] On this day, Konkani language writers are honored.

Goembab's influence

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Goembab is credited with having written seven books in Latin or Romi Konkani and 22 in Konkani in the Devnagri script, His works comprise short stories, dramas, novels, poetry, essays, works on linguistics, philosophy and history.[3] He is also considered as a ideological founder of the Konkani cause by language protagonists in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Celebrations

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In 2017, the event was observed for the first time in Belagavi, formerly Belgaum, which lies in Karnataka State.[4] Bishop of Belagavi, Rev. Peter Machado has been quoted saying that Konkani speaking people in the region comprised to Saraswats, Christians, Daivadnyas and Konkan Marathas, yet "the Konkani speaking people from the upper ghats region comprising from Yellapur to Kolhapur have painstakingly conserved the language and culture, the legacy that needs to be carried forward till the next century."[4]

Other celebrations

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Konkani Day has also been observed on 20 August, the day on which Konkani was included as part of the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This celebration was marked in 2017 at a school in Margao, Goa, the Vidya Vikas Mandal.[5]

Mandd Sobhann in Mangalore (now Mangaluru) has also organised a World Konkani Convention, though different from the event mentioned above.[6]

In Abu Dhabi, a Konkani Cultural Day was held in April in 2018.[7]

World Konkani Unity Day was also scheduled to be held in December in 2010 in Mangalore.[8]

World Kokani Day was held for the first time in January 2020 in Mumbai.[9]

World Goa Day

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Another day, called the World Goa Day is also organised on 20 August, for the past two decades,[10] by volunteers in various pockets across the globe, more to link up the diaspora from Goa with their home and among themselves.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World Konkani Day". oHeraldo. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ^ Keeping konkani alive through Cinema NavHind Times
  3. ^ a b InsideGoa, Team. "World Konkani Day | Inside Goa". Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "World Konkani Day". All About Belgaum. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Konkani Day". Vidya Vikas Academy. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Mangalore: World Konkani Convention Day 5 - 02". Mandd Sobhann. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  7. ^ Release, Press (2 March 2018). "KCO to Hold Konkani Cultural Day on April 27". Mangalorean.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Prez Patil to grace World Konkani Unity Day". The Times of India. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. ^ Biswal, Ananya (17 January 2020). "City to mark first World Kokani Day on Jan. 19". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  10. ^ Monteiro, Lisa (23 October 2020). "Goans across the world gear up to celebrate 20th World Goa Day, to reconnect virtually". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 December 2020.