J.B.
Moraes receives Dr.T.M.A. Pai Award in Mumbai
In a grand function organised in
Mumbai by the Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation, Manipal, the ‘Dr.T.M.A.
Pai Best Konkani Book Award – 2000’ was presented to Shri J.B.
Moraes, the Sahitya Akademi Award winning poet, author and
journalist by Shri R.H. Mendonca IPS (Retd.) at the Hotel Samrat,
Churchgate, Mumbai on 13th December 13, 2001. The
award was given for his biographical book ‘George Fernandes –
Ek Sahasi Jinn’ Several leading lights of the Konkani
community, associates and relatives of Shri Fernandes, family
members and wellwishers of Shri Moraes and media persons were
present in large numbers. In a departure from the usual
practice, the award was given in Mumbai for the first time by
the Foundation which is based in Manipal.
Shri M.R. Pai, trustee of the
Foundation and a noted consumer activist, welcomed the gathering
and read out the messages received on the occasion from
wellknown personalities including the Bishop of Mangalore and
Shri George Fernandes. Shri Fernandes in his message said that
Shri Moraes richly deserved the award as he (Moraes) had little
or no help from him. Shri M.V. Kamath the internationally known
columnist and a former editor of the Illustrated Weekly of
India, introduced the award winner and also gave glimpses of
Shri George Fernandes’ life whom he has known personally for
several decades.
The
Chief Guest Shri R.H. Mendonca felicitated Shri Moraes by
presenting him a shawl and a Citation in sandalwood acasket and
a cash award of Rs.25,000. Shri Moraes in his acceptance speech
lauded the splendid efforts of Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation in
encouraging Konkani writers of all regions. He recalled how he
was inspired by great leaders of Dakshina Kannada District like
Dr. Shivarama Karanth, Adv. Khaitan Lobo, Dr. L.P. Fernandes,
Karnad Sadashiva Rao and others. He explained in detail the
sacrifice and suffering of George Fernandes in his youth and how
he strived for the uplifitment of the exploited and the
unorgaized sector. He said Shri Fernandes was incorruptible and
is a role model for the youth. He deplored the lack of
biographies in Konkani of great men and women of our times. In a
gesture to encourage biographies in Konkani, he donated part of
his cash award to the Konkani Bhasha Mandal Mumbai to institute
a suitable scheme for this purpose. He also thanked all those
who helped in producing and selling the book.
Shri
Rony Mendonca in his speech congratulated Shri Moraes on his
stupendous task. He advised Konkanis to adopt Devnagari as the
common script for Konkani which will help Konkani language
and literature to reach a wider readership.
Shri
M.R. Pai proposed a vote of thanks
(By our Mumbai Correspondent.)
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