Goa's oldest Roman Konkani weekly, Vauraddeancho Ixtt (Workers' friend), which has worked tirelessly for uplifting the local language and has been at the forefront highlighting several socio-econmic issues afflicting the State, turned 90 on December 20, 2022.
The 90th anniversary celebration was held at the Seminary Annex hall, Pilar, Goa, where Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Fereira was the chief guest and noted Konkani writer and Jnanpith awardee, Damodar Mauzo, and the President of Tiatr Academy Goa (TAG), Menino de Bandar, were the guests of honour.
CONTRIBUTION TO KONKANI LANGUAGE
Speaking on the occasion, Jnanpith awardee, Damodar Mauzo, praised Vauraddeancho Ixtt for the tremendous contribution to the growth of the Konkani language, especially during the Portuguese rule.
“This weekly has maturity and experience. It has to prepare itself for the upcoming challenges as it marches towards a century,” expressed Mauzo. He further said that the protagonists of the Konkani language should work unitedly and avoid division on the basis of script.
The chief guest for the function, Advocate Fereira, said that members of the Society of Pilar have contributed immensely to the promotion and preservation of the Konkani language through Vauraddeancho Ixtt.
The first edition of Vauraddeancho Ixtt was published from Margao, Goa, on December 20, 1933.
FAMOUS KONKANI WRITERS
Well-known tiatrist, Menino de Bandar, in his speech promised advertisements through TAG to the weekly to defray the expenses of the publication.
The guest speaker for the function, Rev Fr Jose Silveira, a member of the Society of Jesus and Director of Thomas Stephen Konkani Kendra, presented a paper on the history of Konkani literature and the contribution of famous writers to Konkani literature.
Superior General of the Society of Pilar, Rev Fr Nazareth Fernandes, remembered the founders of the weekly and acknowledged their decision to hand over the weekly to the Society of Pilar to carry forward the apostolate of the print media.
VAURADEACHO IXTT AWARDS
On the occasion, Gaudalupe Dias from Majorda, a writer and author of several books, received the 'Shennoi Goembab Award' for her contribution to the Konkani language.
Fr Jose Dias, a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Goa, received the 'Fr. Lactantio Almeida Award' for regularly writing on Vauraddeancho Ixtt on important social issues.
'Fr Nicolau Pereira Award' for scoring highest marks in MA Konkani literature for the academic year 2021-22 was awarded to Mansi Dauskar from Mapusa.
A SPECIAL SONG
To mark the 90th anniversary of the weekly, a special song dedicated to Vauraddeancho Ixtt was composed and set to tune by Fr Dominic Alvares and sung by the seminarians.
A monologue directed by Fr Milton Rodrigues emphasising the need to promote the Konkani language was presented by seminarian Chrison Pereira.
ABOUT VAURADDEANCHO IXTT
Late Fr Joao Francis Fernandes was the first editor and late Fr Arsenio Lucio Fernandes was its manager of Vauraddeancho Ixtt. However, due to some difficulties, in 1940, it was published from the Rachol Seminary and was edited by late Fr Gracian Morais with the support of late Fr Joao Francis Fernandes and late Fr Arsenio Lucio Fernandes.
With added difficulty to stand the production cost, the then Archbishop D Jose Costa Nunes handed it over to the Society of Pilar in 1944.
From then onwards the Society of Pilar strived to sustain this Roman Konkani weekly.