Pune, July 13, 2025: The spirit of unity and linguistic pride echoed through Nigdi, Chinchwad, as the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad celebrated its Foundation Day with a grand cultural and intellectual gathering. The event brought together language lovers, cultural leaders, and students from various parts of India under one common banner: the celebration and promotion of the Konkani language.
Delivering a powerful keynote address, chief guest Dr. Purnanand Chari questioned the deeper societal divides that persist. “If brothers from rival political parties can unite over the cause of language, then when will we be free from the chains of caste, region, religion, and script?” he asked. Dr. Chari also reminded the audience that Konkani is a language forged in the crucible of struggle and must continue to be nurtured wherever Konkani speakers reside.
Chairing the event, Melvyn Rodrigues, convenor of the Konkani Board at the Sahitya Akademi, highlighted the importance of individual responsibility in linguistic preservation. “If each person does their duty toward their language, no force can prevent its progress,” he said.
The ceremony included a heartfelt tribute to Late Rocky Miranda, who was posthumously conferred the Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Lifetime Achievement Award. Accepting the award in the Miranda family’s absence, H. M. Pernal received it from Rodrigues on their behalf.
Prominent personalities such as Vijayanand Gaitonde, Dr. Vaman Naik, Isidore Dantas, Alfi Monteiro, and Dr. Ashwini Kulkarni were honoured with Kunbi shawls and mementoes for their contributions to various fields within the Konkani cultural sphere.
The event included a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Unity of Konkani People in India”, featuring speakers Titus Noronha, Anant Agni, and Remson Vaz, moderated by Ganadhish Prabhudesai.
The program was beautifully interspersed with cultural performances. Konkani songs were rendered by Gayatri Patil, Laxman Naik, and Rishabh Sathe, with musical support from Manohar Tamankar. The event was anchored by Govind Mopkar, Saisha Desai, and Anish Agni, while Sneha Sabnis, secretary of the Parishad, delivered the vote of thanks.
Co-organiser and Director of City Pride School, Dr. Deepali Sawai, expressed deep gratitude for hosting the event and reaffirmed her school’s support for future Konkani-related programs.
The Foundation Day served not only as a moment of celebration but also as a call to action — to preserve and elevate the Konkani language and community across states and generations.
Pune, July 13, 2025 – The All India Konkani Parishad will celebrate its Foundation Day with a vibrant cultural gathering in Pune, Maharashtra, spotlighting the enduring spirit of the Konkani community across India. Organized in association with City Pride School, Nigdi, Chinchwad, and supported by the Directorate of Official Language, Government of Goa, the event promises a mix of honours, dialogue, and musical celebration.
This year, the prestigious Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented posthumously to Late Rocky Miranda, acknowledging his significant contributions to the Konkani language and cultural identity. His family will receive the award at the inaugural ceremony.
Goa Konkani Akademi President Dr. Purnanand Chari will grace the event as the chief guest, while Melvyn Rodrigues, Sahitya Akademi’s Konkani Advisory Board Convenor, will preside over the function.
Several other dignitaries will also be felicitated for their work in advancing Konkani language and culture, especially in Maharashtra. The honorees include:
Lexicographer Isidor Dantas
Researcher Vaman Naik
Educationist Dr. Ashwini Kulkarni
Writer Vijayanand Gaitonde
Konkani activist Alfi Monteiro
A special session titled “Unity Among Indian Konkani Communities” will bring together voices from Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra to reflect on shared identity and cooperation. The event will culminate in a Konkani musical programme, celebrating the region’s rich musical heritage.
According to Sneha Sabnis, Secretary of the Parishad, the event expects around 300 delegates and aims to deepen cultural bonds and linguistic pride among Konkani speakers nationwide.
By Maryanne De Souza || Team Allycaral In its largest-ever edition, the festival will have 35+ curators including Shubha Mudgal, Lillete Dubey, Ehsaan Noorani, Manu Chandra, Thukral & Tagra, and Geeta Chandran among others across disciplines like visual and performing arts, craft, culinary arts and accessibility.
Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) returns to Panaji, Goa in its landmark tenth edition, from December 12 to 21, 2025, with a renewed vision, expanded ambitions, and a vast roster of curators and grants. As one of India’s largest multi-disciplinary arts events, it will mark a decade of celebrating the arts and fostering creativity, collaboration, inclusivity, and cross-cultural exchange across disciplines.
To mark this significant edition, along with the recently concluded SAF Mini Edition in Birmingham, UK, the Festival will extend its presence beyond Goa, activating events in cities across India through the year, culminating in the main event in December. This anniversary edition will reflect on Serendipity’s past journey while also looking forward — with dynamic art-led interventions, deeper community engagements, and greater national and global presence.
Commenting on the milestone 10th Edition, Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder and Patron, Serendipity Arts says, “Ten years ago, when we conceived the first Serendipity Arts Festival, we imagined a place where canvasses, workshops, stages, cuisines, cultures, and audiences could come together in a seamless mix…and where everyone felt welcome. We also visualised a platform where technology and tradition could blend and reflect on our reality. At that time, it seemed like a difficult, if not an impossible, goal. It is a delight to see that a decade later, this very place has become a thriving city of ideas where we are not merely celebrating art—we are redrawing its map and reaffirming our belief that when the arts come together, society moves forward. Many have played a part in this evolution: our own teams, the Government of Goa, the people of Goa, our amazing partners from many counties, the thousands of artists, the millions in the audience over ten years and our curators with their rich imagination and boundless energy. Each of these stakeholders are deserving of a big thank you from all of us.”
Mayor of Panaji, Rohit Monserrate, lauds all the past editions of the Festival which have added to the cultural vibrancy of Panaji. He says, “In each of its past nine editions, the renowned Serendipity Arts Festival has brought Panaji, the state capital of Goa, alive, nurturing creative expression, supporting our local economy and putting Goa on the world map as far as cultural and artistic expression are concerned. The festival’s diverse programming and inclusive spirit bring life to public spaces and boost tourism, helping create jobs and support Goa’s local economy. SAF is a stellar illustration of how art and culture are the soul of our city and the backbone of its growth. On behalf of the citizens of Panaji, we offer best wishes to the organisers of SAF on the occasion of their landmark 10th edition.”
Curators for the 2025 edition
In celebration of its grand 10th edition, Serendipity Arts Festival has brought together its largest-ever line-up of 35+ curators across disciplines like visual arts, dance, music, theatre, design, and culinary innovation amongst others. It features some of the most accomplished voices including actor-directorLillete Dubey, musicians Ehsaan Noorani, and Zubin Balaporia, Padma Shri Geeta Chandran, art historian Anjana Somany, artist Sudarshan Shetty, curator-publisher Rahaab Allana, tabla maestro Aneesh Pradhan, celebrated chef Manu Chandra, acclaimed poet and cultural theorist Ranjit Hoskote, multi-disciplinary designer Sandeep Sangaru, theatre director and recipient of Sangeet Natak Award Anuradha Kapur, amongst others.
Speaking about this year’s robust curatorial mix, Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation & Festival says, “As we step into our 10th year, Serendipity Arts Festival remains committed to creating spaces for artists, audiences, and communities to meet in meaningful and inclusive ways. With a stellar line-up of curators and an expanded set of grants and initiatives, we hope this edition catalyses new ideas, questions and connections that continue to energise the arts in South Asia.”
The Visual Arts section includes curators like cultural theorist Ranjit Hoskote, artist duo Thukral and Tagra and large-scale conceptual artist Sudarshan Shetty. Mumbai-based curator and writer Veeranganakumari Solanki known for her narrative-driven practice spanning public and private spaces will take the visitors on an interesting site with her artistic interventions. Vidya Shivadas, Director of Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA), and has a practice deeply rooted in critical art discourse, will curate exhibitions based on pedagogical and material experimentations.
The Craft section has curators such as ceramic artist Kristine Michael, and textile designer/artist Rashmi Varma who is known for exploring identity, memory, and gesture through the language of handmade fabric. Art historian and craft researcher Anjana Somany, committed to showcasing living craft traditions, will curate a project exploring the subterranean worlds of step-wells with a craft showcase. Designer Sandeep Sangaru, who works with indigenous materials will spotlight Kashmiri crafts in his curation.
The Photography section will be curated by several lens-based practitioners including Ravi Agarwal, an artist and environmentalist whose lens-based work interrogates ecology and nature. Rahaab Allana, curator and publisher of the Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, will curate an exhibition of image-oriented works from the Indian subcontinent and Arab peninsula. Documentary photographer and co-founder of Nazar Foundation, Prashant Panjiar’s curation will spotlight various occupational communities from Goa. Another of his curations will be a display on preserving family tales woven through self-portraits, inherited material, workshops, listening booths and talks. Dinesh Khanna, a veteran photographer and educator will curate projects on the theme of migration and memory.
The Dance section will have curators including the iconic Geeta Chandran, founder of Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Jayachandran Palazhy, writer and dance practitioner Ranjana Dave, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Tanusree Shankar. Dave’s curation based on dance and movement will focus on a wide range of accessibility needs. Palazhy will curate projects that explore the strength of human connections, the concept of influence, and daily urban challenges through AI interventions, visual installations and interactive performances.
The Theatre section’s curations are poised to ignite the socio, political and cultural consciousness of the society. Award-winning playwright, director, and filmmaker Mahesh Dattani known for bringing contemporary issues to the stage will curate an Ambedkarite opera. Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Anuradha Kapur will spotlight the 180-year-old rich legacy of Marathi theatre. Sankar Venkateswaran will bring a classical touch to his curatorial work around a Koodiyattam act which will let the audience reflect on the themes of justice, power, and love in an unequal world. The other curators in this section also include popular actor-theatre director Lillete Dubey, and theater actor-director Quasar Thakore Padamsee.
The Music section will have an exciting lineup of curators like Ehsaan Noorani, Bickram Ghosh, Aneesh Pradhan, Ranjit Barot, Shubha Mudgal and Zubin Balaporia. Balaporia and Noorani will curate a performance that will bring the magic of blues, funk and jazz. Barot with Balaporia will curate a musical tribute to the iconic tabla player and composer Zakir Hussain. Pradhan and Mudgal’s curatorial performance will enthral the audience with a percussion act spotlighting folk instruments.
The Culinary curators including Odette Mascarenhas, Rahul Akerkar, Thomas Zacharias and The Locavore will create a sensorial experience that will extend beyond taste and smell. The collective Edible Issues focussed on Indian food systems, will curate projects that probe the cultural perceptions of aroma, as well as those around climate change’s effect on livestock and pastoral communities. Influential Chef Manu Chandra who has helmed several award-winning restaurant brands will pay an ode to old Goan tavernas in his curation. Sommelier-restaurateur Prahlad Sukhantar will spotlight India’s diverse salt traditions in his curation.
As Accessibility of arts forms the core of Serendipity Arts Festival, writer and disability campaigner Salil Chaturvedi will curate acts led by deaf and mute artists, workshops tailored to audiences with special needs, and create an inclusive space like Studio Me where everyone at the festival can try their hand at art.
These curated programmes will be spread across age-old heritage venues in Panjim including the Old GMC Complex, Art Park, Promenade and Gazebo, Kala Academy, Excise Building, Directorate of Accounts Building, Azad Maidan, Santa Monica Jetty, Yoga Promenade Jetty, The Arena at Nagali Hills Ground amongst others.
Below is a sneak peek into the much-anticipated 10th-year edition
Serendipity Arts continues its commitment to supporting emerging and mid-career practitioners through an expanded portfolio of grants in 2025. These initiatives are designed to provide financial, infrastructural, and mentorship support to practitioners across regions and disciplines through the following grants and residencies:
Futures in Formation | Public Art Programme (in partnership with FICA)
Serendipity Arts Residency 2025
Senior Artist Residency (in collaboration with Royal College of Art)
Enduring Traditions Grant
Serendipity Arles Grant
Folk Arts Grant
Independent Music Production Grant
WAC (Write | Art | Connect)
Arts Journalism Grant
With such an exceptional curatorial team, an expanded grants portfolio that will be showcased at SAF 2025, along with a commitment to year-round multi-city engagement, the 2025 edition promises to be its most exciting edition yet for the Serendipity Arts Festival. The Foundation invites audiences, practitioners, and patrons to be part of this milestone celebration as it reaffirms its belief in the transformative power of the arts.
Overview:
Serendipity Arts
Serendipity Arts is a not-for-profit collaborative platform based in Delhi, fostering empathy, curiosity and cross-cultural dialogue by supporting emerging artists across South Asia. The Foundation’s aim is to nurture artistic practice, promote research, and provide sustainability and education in the field of the arts. Over the past decade, Serendipity Arts has encouraged cultural heritage projects alongside contemporary art practices with extensive residencies, grants, collaborative projects, art writing initiatives and a multi-disciplinary arts festival.
Panjim, Goa – At a recent two-day writers’ gathering organized by the Institute Menezes Braganza at SRK Farm, Khandpar, prominent literary voices came together to spotlight the evolving landscape of Goan literature — with a special emphasis on the vital role of women poets in shaping the state’s rich cultural narrative.
Delivering an insightful talk, folklore scholar, teacher, and researcher Pournima Kerkar highlighted the significant yet often underappreciated contributions of women poets to Goan literature, especially in the Marathi language. “Their poetry brings a deeply personal, lyrical, and authentic voice to our literary canvas,” Kerkar noted. “Though mainstream recognition has been slow, their work is finally receiving the attention it deserves.”
John Aguiar, renowned poet and the presiding dignitary at the event, underscored the importance of nurturing young literary talent. In his closing remarks, Aguiar called for increased efforts to cultivate a culture of poetry reading and appreciation among the youth. “We need to inspire a generation that not only consumes but also creates literary literature that captures the essence of Goa,” he said.
Joining the discussion were Shri Ramesh Vaskar, journalist, writer, and poet, and Sheetal Salgaonkar, writer and poet, who brought forward valuable insights into the creative process and progression of Goan poetry.
Vaskar encouraged poets to draw from their lived experiences while aiming for artistic depth and originality. “Relatable, sincere poetry that goes beyond surface-level self-expression has the power to move hearts and minds,” he said.
Sheetal Salgaonkar contributed by presenting an overview of the evolution of Goan poetry, noting how it has become more inclusive and diverse in theme and voice, particularly with the rising presence of women writers.
As the gathering progressed, the conversation shifted to the soul of Goan poetry — its deep connection to the land and culture. Quoting iconic works like Manohar Rai Sardesai’s “Othra June”, Borkar’s “Nilya Khadichya Katala”, Vishnu Wagh’s “Ghumche Kattar Ghum”, and Ramesh Ghadi’s “Avoi Mhaka Chitint Goenchi Mati Dhad Ge”, participants reflected on how Goan poetry “smells of the soil” — rooted in memory, nature, and cultural identity.
Aguiar also emphasized the importance of standardizing Konkani poetry to preserve Goa’s literary heritage. He suggested that platforms like Institute Menezes Braganza and Ugtem Molob could play a pivotal role in facilitating poet readings, followed by critical discussions to help writers refine and improve their work.
This two-day gathering served not only as a celebration of literary talent but also as a call to action — to recognize the richness of women’s contributions, to inspire younger generations, and to preserve the authenticity and vibrance of Goa’s poetic traditions.
Honoured for her celebrated children’s story collection Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo
New Delhi | June 18, 2025 — In a proud moment for Konkani literature and Goa’s literary community, Nayana Adarkar, an acclaimed writer and storyteller, has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 for her collection of Konkani short stories for children, Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo. The award was announced by the Sahitya Akademi as part of its annual celebration recognizing literary excellence across 24 Indian languages.
Adarkar’s award-winning book, Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo, is a compelling collection of short stories that capture the innocence, curiosity, and inner world of children, while subtly weaving in themes of identity, family, and social values. Written in authentic, lyrical Konkani, the book has been praised for its emotive storytelling and cultural rootedness, making it a standout contribution to Indian children’s literature.
“This honour reflects the timeless relevance of storytelling in one’s mother tongue. I dedicate this award to the children of Goa and every reader who sees a piece of themselves in my stories,” said Nayana Adarkar in a statement following the announcement.
🏅 About the Bal Sahitya Puraskar
The Bal Sahitya Puraskar, awarded annually by Sahitya Akademi, celebrates outstanding works of literature for children published in Indian languages. The 2025 award includes a cash prize of ₹50,000 and an engraved copper plaque, and is decided by a language-specific jury panel.
For the Konkani category, the jury comprised:
Kumud Bhiku Naik
Rajay Pawar
Louis Rodrigues
The jury praised Adarkar’s work for its “original narrative style, emotional depth, and its ability to meaningfully engage young readers through culturally relevant themes.”
🧒 Writing for the Young, In the Language of Home
Nayana Adarkar’s literary career has long been marked by a passion for preserving and enriching Konkani literature, especially for children and young readers. Her latest accolade is not just a personal milestone but also a significant step in elevating the status of Konkani as a vibrant language of creative expression.
🖋️ A Double Honour for Konkani
The announcement also brought recognition to another emerging voice in Konkani literature — Glynis Dias, who was conferred the Yuva Puraskar 2025 for her short story collection Gaavgaathaa. The Yuva Puraskar celebrates literary excellence among writers under the age of 35.
The Konkani jury for the Yuva Puraskar included:
Anant Agni
H. J. Goveas
Madhav Borcar
Both awards highlight the creative momentum in Konkani literary circles, particularly in children’s and youth genres.
🎉 Award Ceremony to Follow
The official award presentation ceremony for the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya and Yuva Puraskars will be held at a later date, where the recipients will be honoured in the presence of distinguished authors, scholars, and Akademi officials.
🏆 In Summary:
Recipient: Nayana Adarkar
Award: Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025
Language: Konkani
Work:Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo (Short Story Collection)
Prize: ₹50,000 + Engraved Copper Plaque
Recognizing: Outstanding literature for children published between 2019–2023
