‘Sahithya Manch’ Honoring Konkani Lexicographer and Grammarian Fr Angello Maffei
On August 30, 2024, the Sahitya Akademi and the Konkani Institute of St. Aloysius Deemed to be University in Mangalore jointly organized a special event titled ‘Sahithya Manch’ to honor Fr Angello F. X. Maffei, the first lexicographer and grammarian of Konkani in Kannada script. The event was held at the Sahodaya Auditorium of St. Aloysius deemed to be University and focused on Maffei's significant contributions to the Konkani language and literature.
The programme commenced with the Registrar of St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Dr. Alwyn D’Sa, welcoming the gathering. This was followed by an introductory address from Melvin Rodrigues, the Convener of the Sahitya Akademi Konkani Advisory Board, who highlighted the importance of Fr Maffei’s work in the field of Konkani linguistics.
Dr Fr Jerome D’Souza SJ, a renowned scholar of Italian, Spanish, French, German, Kannada, and Konkani languages, inaugurated the event by offering flower petals to an image of Fr A.F.X. Maffei, marking the beginning of a day filled with insightful discussions and reflections on Maffei's contributions.
The symposium was chaired by Dr Fr Melwyn Pinto SJ, who provided an overview of Fr Maffei’s life and work. Three scholarly papers were presented during the event, each focusing on different aspects of Maffei's contributions:
- Fr Olvin Veigas SJ presented a detailed paper on the life and work of Fr Angello F. X. Maffei, highlighting his journey and achievements in the field of Konkani literature.
- Dr Fr Jerome D’Souza delivered a paper on Fr Maffei's role as a lexicographer, delving into his methodologies and the impact of his lexicon on Konkani language preservation.
- Fr Jason Pinto S.D.B presented a paper on Fr Maffei as a grammarian, exploring his work in standardizing Konkani grammar and its significance for future scholars and speakers of the language.
The event was started with a prayer song sung by members of the Konkani Sangh. Miss Delvita Veigas efficiently compered the event, and vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. Flora Castelino, the Head of the Department of Konkani at St. Aloysius Deemed to be University.