The Kathasandhi program, organized by Sahitya Akademi and hosted by the Konkani weekly Raknno, took place at Bishop’s House, Kodialbail, Mangalore on July 30th, 2023. The program featured Sri Dolphy Frederick Lobo, a senior fiction writer and journalist popularly known as Dolphy Cascia.
During the event, Sri Lobo discussed his approach to maintaining the sanctity of language and narrative in his fiction writing. He highlighted that he used short stories as a medium to convey social messages. The short story he presented, titled “Mai Kityaak Rodtha” (Why Mother Crying), addressed the problem of alcoholism among lower middle-class families in his neighborhood. He expressed his satisfaction in successfully tackling this burning social issue in his story, shedding light on the destruction of families and the stigma faced by young children, particularly in rural areas among the labor class.
In the discussion, Sri Lobo explained the elements that make a short story stand out, such as a curious beginning, a twist in the end, and a catchy title, which make the story attractive to readers.
The event was introduced by H M Pernal, a member of the Language Advisory Board, who briefed the audience about various Sahitya Akademi programs like Kathasandhi, Garama loak, Through my window, Kavi Sandhi, Meet the Author, and Nari Chethana, among others. He also mentioned that the Kathasandhi program was the third one organized by Sahitya Akademi in the month of July in that area, with two more programs scheduled for August.
Poet Melvyn Rodrigues, a General Council Member and Convenor of Konkani at Sahitya Akademi, escorted Sri Dolphy Lobo to the dias during the event. The discussion was moderated by Rev Fr Roopesh Madtha, the Editor of Raknno Weekly, who also proposed the vote of thanks.
The event aimed to promote literature and foster discussions on important social issues through the platform of short stories and other literary works. It also served as an opportunity to inform the audience about various Sahitya Akademi publications and grants available to support young writers and literary enthusiasts.
