Karnataka

Prathisthan collecting artefacts

BANGALORE: The Konkani Bhas Ani Samskriti Prathisthan will take up systematic and scientific study of Konkani culture and language. It will create a knowledge bank on Konkani culture at the upcoming Vishwa Konkani Convention Centre at Shaktinagar in Mangalore, according to the prathisthan president Basti Vaman Shenoy.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shenoy said that “Konkani speaking people are spread out all along the Western Coast from Rathnagiri to Thiruvananthapuram; it is, perhaps, the largest linguistic minority which needs to be seen as a united entity. This is possible only through culture.”

The prathisthan is now engaged in the collection of Konkani literature, artefacts, implements, paintings and household articles from all over the country.

Mr. Shenoy, who was in the city in this connection, said that Konkani speakers could be found in three religions (Hinduism, Islam and Christianity) and 18 castes, including some backward tribal communities.

The tribal Konkani speaking people found in Uttara Kannada feature in the list of Scheduled Tribes who are known as Kudmbi and Siddhis. In the coastal areas, the Kharvis, who belong to fishermen community, also speak Konkani.

Similarly, the Muslim Konkani speaking community known as Navahiites are found in Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta and Karwar and in small numbers in the southern districts of the State. The Catholics and United Basel Mission Christians also speak different variants of Konkani.

Mr. Shenoy said the Konkanis are also found in Kerala and Maharashtra.

They were also facing the problem of not having a centralised place for showcasing their culture. But in Goa, Konkani culture appears to be lively despite a prominent colonial influence in that State.

The Vishwa Konkani Convention Centre will showcase the Konkani culture in three different ways — literature, lifestyle and through setting up of museums.

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