It was a confluence of poetic minds, both young and veteran, at Barkur here on Sunday January 11 as Kavita Trust which strives for the promotion of Konkani poetry once again organized an intellectually inspiring Kavita Fest, for the 9th consecutive year.
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As has been the tradition with Kavita Fests, the venue was an idyllic setting, this time the courtyard of Stany and Gretta Lewis at Chowlikere, Barkur. The day-long event was organized by Kavita Trust in association with the department of Kannada and culture, Government of Karnatka, Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, Mangaluru, and 'The Expressions'.
Retired ambassador of India Pascal Alan Nazareth inaugurated the Fest by showering rose petals into the air, in the presence of Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation president Basti Vaman Shenoy and 'The Expressions' president Naveen Dias, Kavita Trust president, Melvyn Rodrigues, secretary Kishore Gonsalves and the hosts Stany and Gretta Lewis.
Addressing the gathering, Alan Nazareth spoke about his love for poetry instilled by his parents. "I have not been blessed with the great gift of poetic talent by the Almighty. Fortunately, thanks to my parents, I acquired a great love for poetry and learnt that it was a far greater art than just putting together sentences that rhyme with each other. It was from them that I first heard some of the poems and Shakespeare soliloquys that subsequently have become a permanent part of my mental make up.
"My mother explained to us her children the difference between prose and poetry in a simple but effective way. She sang a well-known hymn to us and then just recited its words and explained that poetry was the equivalent of setting prose to music and thus enhancing its beauty and meaning.
"The poem I have loved most of all has been Byron’s poem about the Ocean which my remarkable mother could recite in full, entirely from memory even a week before she passed away, at age 89. A framed copy of it, written and gifted by her to me on my 55th birthday, has been one of my treasured possessions," he said, going on to recite two stanzas of Byron's poem as a tribute to his mother.
He further said, "From my father I got my first introduction to Shakespeare and knowledge that poetry could and was used even in plays. Whenever my mother cautioned him to be careful, whenever he went for a swim in the sea or for a walk in the late evening he would smilingly recount the lines from Shakespeare's plays. So I am deeply grateful to both my parents for introducing me to the beauty of poetry in its diverse forms from my childhood."
Recalling some of his favourtite poems, he said, "Among the many definitions of poetry the one that appeals to me the most is William Wordsworth’s, which is that poetry is “deep emotions recalled in tranquility” for it is only in tranquility that one is able to fathom the eternal verities and the great harmony and beauty in all of creation."
He also paid a tribute to his daughter who passed away in 1999 and said, "My younger daughter Seema was a young journalist when she passed away, at age 24 in March 1999,. She had won prizes for her poetry compositions in New York and Cairo where she did her middle and high school studies there and subsequently kept a diary, all in poetry." He thanked organizers for inviting him as chief guest and wished the Fest all success.
'Kavitvachem Nandanaavan', a book of essays on poetry by Maxim Lobo was released on the occasion. Andrew D'Cunha introduced Maxim Lobo and his work. Maurice and Benedicta D'Souza Memorial multi-lingual poetry session was held, presided over by Purnananda Chari. Trustee Andrew L D'Cunha introduced the participating poets. While Eric Soans, Yogini Acharya, CGS Taccode, Neelba Khandekar, Jnanadev Mallya, Felcy Lobo read their konkani poems, Salma from Chennai read her Tamil poems. Namitha Varma read Enlgish poems. Averyl Rodrigues read the translations done by Melvyn Rodrigues in konkani of both these poets. While V K Yadav read his Tulu poems, Roshan D'Souza read their translations done by Melvyn Rodrigues in konkani.
The final rounds of I Cha Fra De Costa Memorial Konkani poetry reciting competition for children in the name of Nelson and Lavina Rodricks, and Rohan and Lavita Monteiro IV All India Konkani Poetry reciting competition were also held on the occasion.
In the children category while Austin D'Cunha won the first prize, second prize was won by Prithuma Monteiro and third by Annalisa D'Silva. Vion Preston Lobo, Shyna D'Silva and Greshal Quadras won the consolation prizes. In the youth category the first prize was won by Supriya Kankonkar, second by Mangesh Harijan and third by Milindra Velip. Consolation prizes were given to Jaison Sequeira, Nazeef Manegar and Tanvi Jambhle.
The Fest also witnessed a lively interactive session on poetry with Sahitya Akademi award winning poet Ramesh Veluskar and Dr Rajay Pawar.
Kavita Trust's Mathias Family Poetry Award for 2014 was conferred on Iqbal Sayeedi, a Konkani poet from Bhatkal.
Ashmi Dasharath Naik, Shreelaxmi Shenoy, Divya Somanath Parsekar and Ashlin Cress Fernandes, the first, second and third place winners, respectively, of the 8th Charles and Theresa Rodrigues Memorial All India Konkani poetry writing competition organised by Kavita Trust were felicitated on the occasion.
Eminent poet from Goa Madhav Borcar was the chief guest for the valedictory programme in the evening, while Nawayath community leader and businessman Mohtisham Abdul Rahman and Fr Valerian Mendonca, parish priest of Barkur church, were the guests of honour.
President of Kavita Trust Melvyn Rodrigues paid fitting poetical tributes to J B Moraes and Madhavi Sardesi, both renowned poets who passed away recently.
Kavita Trust secretary Kishore Gonsalves welcomed the gathering. Eric Soans compered and proposed the vote of thanks. Trustees Vitori Karkal, William Pais and Averyl Rodrigues and others were present.
Earlier in the day, the event began with a colourful procession.