New Jersey: North American Konkani Association organizes Konkani Sammelan 2012

[email protected] (Media Release)
July 18, 2012

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New Jersey, July 18: The Konkani Sammelan is a unique medium for Konkani’s to connect with each other through a formalized system which integrates the need of a community to socialize with the hope of its denizens to showcase and protect its cultural diversity. Far from being a mere cultural extravaganza, the Konkani Sammelan supports and fosters communal harmony and is the binding force that retains and encourages a sense of kinship and pride. It represents our ability to adapt as a race, grow as a community and mature as individuals. When a group of people, no matter its scale, starts sharing common ways of thinking, feeling and socializing, culture emerges. With collective synergies, we strive to enhance the ideologies, systems and common code of ethics that bind us into this inclusive fabric of society. Language is the key that unifies and gives structure to these value systems and camaraderie is the thread that weaves all these elements into social fabric.


The first Konkani Sammelan was held in 1996 in the state of New Jersey. It was an earnest endeavor by the originalKonkani migrants, to facilitate the inter-mingling of Konkanis in the North American Region. Under the able leadership and foresight of its founding members, a not-for-profit organization, NAKA (North American Konkani Association) was formed soon after the first Sammelan. Since then, the Sammelans have been held once in two years, across various locations in North America such as Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and New Jersey. The number of attendees has increased progressively along with the steadily growing numbers of the Konkani diaspora in North Americas. The first Konkani Sammelan in 1996 was host to 400 attendees vis-a-vis 1800 delegates attending the2012 Sammelan.

The 8th Konkani Sammelan was held in Edison, New Jersey from 29th June to 1st July 2012. Led by its President Dr. Gopal Bhandarkar, this three day cultural extravaganza saw more than 1800 attendees from India, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the USA. Host to the biggest Sammelantill date, the state of New Jersey pulled out all stops and put together an eclectic set of programs catering to its culturally rich and diversified audience. The Chief Guest of this cultural potpourri was Shri. T.V Mohandas Pai (ex-CFO of Infosys and chair of Manipal Universal Learning), who flew in from India to be part of the Sammelan festivities. His passionate and articulate speech exhorted all attendees to respect their heritage, nurture their culture and pass on its legacy to the next generation. Other featured speakers and delegates included Padma Vibhushan and member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Shyam Benegal (famous director and winner of numerous awards), Shri Basti Vaman Shenoy (President, World Konkani Center), Shri Ram Mohan (famous director), Ms. Mahalaxmi Shenoy (famous classical singer), Ms. Amrita Rao (famous Bollywood actress) and Arun Ubhayakar (Konkani Vidhwaan).

An offshoot of every Sammelan is the inherent sense of pride for the mother tongue and efforts made to ensure its survival far away from the homeland. While a systematic and organizational focus is essential for chronicling the growth and succession of the language in parts, its real flavor and essence can only be retained if every successive generation makes an attempt to speak the tongue. The entire community is united in its efforts and hope that the language continues to be the unifying force that binds the community, its cultural legacies and its denizens together.

Konkanis have a made a mark in almost every field and the community as a whole, has every reason to be proud of its trend setting entrepreneurs, leaders, educationists, entertainers, sportspersons etc. To recognize and encourage exceptional Konkanis, awards were distributed to 15 achievers in various fields. These Awards institutionalized during earlier Sammelans have become synonymous with excellence and a source of pride for the entire community. The 2012 awardees were selected after much deliberation and care. Nominations were called from the fraternity and after a systematic due diligence process; selections were made based on majority votes received from the Awards Committee. Award winners include, Dr.José Pereira, Dr. B.Jayant Baliga, Mr. Vasanth Bhat, Executive Committee Members of the 2008 Konkani Sammelan, Dr. Mohandas Kini and Late Dr. T. M. A. Pai.

Excellence Awards were also given to Ms. Kavita Baliga (Music), Dr. Vijya Balse (Performing Arts), Dr. Narayan H Nayak (Visual Arts), Dr. Krishna Shenoy (Research), Dr. Prasad Kadle (Technology), Dr. Annapoorna Kini (Professional Achievement), Dr. Shyam J Kamath (Education), Ms. Priyanka Kamath (Sports) and Ms. Aishwarya Raja (Outstanding Youth).

The wide array of entertainment programs showcased talented Konkanis that enthralled and entertained the audience in equal measure. A dramatic, vivid and stimulating opening ceremony awed the audience and captured the essence of the entire Sammelan in dance form. “Ammi Kon”, the opening song signifies Konkani pride, its history and the spirit of the community as a whole. The convention also brought together a judicious mix of workshops and cultural programs that beguiled and captivated the imagination and interest of this multi-faceted, demographically diverse audience . Appeasing 1800 palates is no mean feat and the organizers were well ahead of this learning curve. Authentic Konkani cuisine was arranged during all meals and the rich aromas wafting throughout the Sammelan venue gave stiff competition to the impressive lineup of dignitaries and celebrities vying for attention. The aesthetic quotient of the convention hall was deftly transformed into an extraordinarily beautiful and dramatic venue under the inspired vision of event planners "Elegant Affairs".

A dedicated team of 60 volunteers has been instrumental in steering this convention to its success. Taking on this onerous task a year and a half ago, Dr. Gopal Bhandarkar, reached out to local Konkanis to step forward and assist him in making the Konkani Sammelan 2012, a grand success. The Executive Committee comprising of Mr. Ravi Shenoy (Sammelan Vice- President), Dr. Vasudev Nayak, Mr. Damodar Baliga and Mrs. Nina Padukone have led a focused and determined team of volunteers who have devoted countless hours selflessly over the past year. Tech savvy, professional and energetic, these volunteer teams have worked seamlessly and in tandem to accomplish their goal and give credence to their Sammelan motto, “Connecting Konkanis Heart to Heart, Home Away from Home.”

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 25,2020

Dubai: Karnataka Sports & Cultural Club (KSCC) distributed Eid Kit across the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah to the ) needy people on Eid al Fitr.

KSCC President Mr. Mohammed Ismail Said: “Eid is a Symbol of Gratitude and Unity. As the last few weeks have been hard for each one of us, we wanted to stand in solidarity to celebrate Eid, by helping labours and needy people. He also said that “We are together to be part of UAE. Serving these meals is our core social responsibility."

KSCC recently conducted humanitarian services during COVID-19 pandemic in 2 phases and conducted Blood Donation Drive. They have also planned to conduct next Blood Donation Drive on 25th May, 2020.

The KSCC main objective is to develop the expatriate community into a well-nourished section of society in the areas of social, sports and cultural activities.

On behalf of KSCC, and the entire executive council Mr. Mohammed Ismail, President of Club, extended a very heartly thanks and gratitude to the Main sponsor of the event M/s. EMSQUARE, Engineering Consultant, and Tawakkal Overseas Dubai.

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Media Release
June 4,2020

Dr Soofi Anwar, Director Academics of University of Stirling RAK, UAE Campus, has achieved the prestigious professional recognition of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) UK. He has achieved this milestone through the Stirling Framework for Evidencing Learning and Teaching Enhancement (SFELTE), the Continuing Professional Development Framework (CPD) for learning and teaching at University of Stirling, Scotland, UK. 

He was recognized for this achievement on recently concluded virtual Learning & Teaching Conference-2020 organized by University of Stirling Campus in UK.  He has secured his Ph.D. in Management from University of Azteca, Mexico.

Dr. Soofi Anwar has over 20 years of experience in teaching and academic leadership at higher education level and has worked in leading universities in UAE, Bahrain and India. He was conferred the prestigious Middle East Education Leadership Award, as the Best Professor in Management-2018 in recognition of his academic excellence, exemplary leadership in higher education. Prior to his current role, he has worked on leadership position in Birla Institute of Technology Offshore Campus RAK.

He has completed his MBA from Dept. of Business Administration, Mangalore University in 1999 and his B. Com degree from Canara College Mangaluru.

He has published numerous research papers in management and in the area of teaching and learning in higher education in reputed academic journals and international conferences proceedings. He is a member of editorial board of two leading management journals and engaged in reviewing faculty research publications in the area of management and marketing. 

He is a son of Haji Abdul Khadar Kodijal and Mrs. Mariyamma from Konaje, Mangaluru.

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Media Release
June 24,2020

The Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), Bahrain, has charted aircrafts to repatriate stranded expatriates to India. 

Boby Parayil, General Secretary, OICC National Committee, Bahrain has thanked all those who supported in this cause.

“The aircrafts were not licensed and were in crisis until the last minute. Finally, Mohammed Mansoor, president of Bahrain chapter of Indian Overseas Congress approached IOC Middle East in charge Dr Arathi Krishna, who helped get permission to operate flight to Kozhikode,” he said in a release. 

All mandatory approvals from the Foreign Ministry of Affairs and other government officials were accomplished by Dr Arathi Krishna. OICC has expressed gratitude to her for her timely support, he said. 

OICC is also grateful to former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy for doing necessary arrangements to get all the approvals for flight landing in Kerala, he added.

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