Dalgado Konknni Akademi
The Dalgado Konknni Akademi is an organisation located in Panjim, Goa that works for the development and promotion of Konkani in the Roman script.
History
The academy was established in 1988 and named after Goan Catholic priest Sebastião Rodolfo Dalgado. During the period 1988-1992, the DKA was very active. Fr. Freddy J. da Costa was the president, playwright Tomazinho Cardozo was the secretary and Prabhakar Tendulkar the treasurer. During this period, DKA published Konkani Orthography in Roman Script, a publication intended for writers to understand the principles and rules of writing Konkani in Roman script.Cardozo was the second president and Jose Salvador Fernandes and Prabhakar Tendulkar were the secretary and treasurer respectively. Konkani actor Premanand Lotlikar was the president of for three consecutive terms of 3 years each while Vincy Quadros has been the secretary from the year 2014. There have been calls for the Government of Goa to stop discriminating against Romi Konkani and officially recognise the DKA.
The organisation aims to promote the study and development of the Konkani language in Roman script; recognize schools that promote the Konkani language; and hold cultural activities for the Konkani language, its literature, and the culture of its writers and speakers.
Activities
The main events organised by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi are:Celebration of the following days:
- Opinion Poll Day - Jan. 16;
- Konkani Journalism Day- Feb 02;
- Konkani Cinema Day - Apr. 24;
- Dalgado Memorial Day - May 8;
- Prabhakar Tendulkar Memorial Day - June 4;
- Reginald Fernandes Memorial Day - June 14;
- Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa Memorial Day July 20;
- DKA Foundation Day Aug. 28.
- Dalgado Sahityik Puraskar ;
- Dalado Sonskrutik Puraskar ;
- Dalgado Romi Konknni Seva Puraskar ;
- Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa Potrkarita Puraskar ;
- Prabhakar Tendulkar Romi Konknni Sonstha Puraskar ;
- Joel D'Souza Daiz Puraskar ;
- Dalgado Tornatto Puraskar ;
- Berta Menezes Ostori Puraskar ;
- Bonaventure D'Pietro Vorsachem Pustok Puroskar ;
The Akademi has also initiated the Konknni Sahitya ani Sonvskrutik Sammelan which has been held since the year 2008. Vincy Quadros was the President of First Sommelan. Akademi also organises Writers Conference every year for the benefit of Romi Konkani Writers.
Apart from this, the academy holds literary competitions on short story, poetry, essays, once act plays and novels. and organises poets' meets. The DKA also publishes a large number of Konkani books. The academy also organises contests such as novel writing and story reading in order to increase the readership and simultaneously to inculcate the habit of reading Konknni in Roman Script.
The year 2015 made a way for State level Konkani Reading Competition. Those secured first three places are selected for Final Round at Akademi's Panjim office. Cash prizes and certificates are awarded at all levels. The DKA has ties with the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr and coordinates several activities with it.