Kasargod Chinna never deserved to be Academy Chief: Konkani Forum

Kasargod Chinna never deserved to be Academy Chief: Konkani Forum

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 18, 2013: Konkani Writers Forum President Henry Mendonca Pernal has urged the government to elect literary personalities as presidents  of academies.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on June 18, Tuesday, he said that the former  Konkani Sahitya Academy president who has now resigned from the post had never deserved it, since he has neither authored any book in Konkani language nor hails from Karnataka.

Criticizing Kasargod Chinna for his statement after resignation that he would remain an ordinary member of the Konkani Sahitya Academy, Henry Mendonca said Chinna does not even deserve to be a member  since he hails from Kerala.

Henry Mendonca said  Chinna after taking charge as the Academy President had even changed the title of the  Konkani news magazine ‘Konkani Siri Sampadh’ to ’Konkani Uzvadu’ for his own publicity. The editorial board has no right to change the title since the board members are neither Konkani writers nor do they belong to the  community.

He urged the government to elect a Konkani writer who has at least two books to his credit, as the Academy President. They should have a flair for Konkani literature, while caste and religion does not matter, he further said.