News | Konkani Novels - International Webinar held on 11 Apr
Ashawadi
Prakashan organized an international webinar
focusing on Konkani novels written in
the Romi, Kannada, Nagari, and Malayalam scripts.
During the event, Monica Dsa Mathias’s novelette
Jinnye Kannik—published in
three scripts—was formally released by Fr.
Chetan Lobo. The webinar saw the participation
of eminent speakers and writers, including Dr.
Purnanda Chari, Dr. Chandralekha Dsouza, Dr.
Charles Lobo, Sunand (Joe D’Mello, Australia),
Willy Goes, Vincy Quadros, Shailendra Mehta, and
Monica Dsa Mathias, among others. The session
was hosted by Lawrence V. Barboza.
Article | Detailed study on Fine Arts, by Sunand, Australia
Poetry
uses a few words to express profound meanings,
while art and painting can be seen as
poetry without words. Not everyone
possesses a deep understanding of art and its
nuances. Here is a well-researched article on
art and paintings by veteran novelist
Sunand (Joe D’Mello), Australia.
Audio | Dedd Hozar Rupoi by Valley Quadros
(Audio
Book #13). Dedd Hozar Rupoi -
Konkani short story published in Rakhnno Weekly
written & presented by Valley Quadros
for Ashawadi Prakashan. Kindly
SUBSCRIBE and support this
channel, so that we can bring more and more
quality of literature to this channel..
Audio | Elmeera Iscarioth by Fr.Roshan Menezes
(Audio
Book #10) Perception can often
become the most dangerous illusion. Why do we
assume that only Peter’s lineage is destined for
heaven, while that of Judas Iscariot is
condemned to hell? This deeply thought-provoking
Easter message is beautifully brought to life
through a unique short story 'Elmeera
Iscarioth' by Fr. Roshan
Menezes Agrar—religious scholar,
counsellor, and former editor of
Sevak Monthly.
Book-Review | Uzvaddache Vengent by Salomi Mogarnad
An
award is a recognition of true merit and the
quality of one’s work. When a deserving creation
is honoured, it brings pride and joy not just to
the creator, but to the entire community. This
year, Andrew L. D’Cunha’s
anthology of poems Uzvaddachye Vengenth
has been awarded the “Best Book” by the
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi. Here’s a
detailed review of this remarkable work. by
Bai Salomi Miyapadav, Mogarnad.
Poetry | Onumati (Permission) by Urjita Bhobe
We
often go through life trying to meet others’
expectations, constantly seeking approval and
shaping ourselves to fit in. But it’s important
to pause and reflect—life is meant to be lived
for ourselves. Before anything else, we must
reconnect with our true identity and rediscover
the “self” that often gets lost in the process.
Life is not a cage, and traditions, customs,
relationships, and bonds should never restrict
or silence who we are; instead, they should
encourage and uplift us. True freedom lies in
embracing our individuality and living a life
that genuinely reflects our inner self. A
thought-provoking piece by Bai Urjita
Bhobe.
Poetry | Vovllig (Wedding Invitation) by Ancita Oshin Dsouza
No
matter what you do, people will always have
something to say. Dress well, and you’re called
a show-off. Dress simple, and you’re judged as
miserly or poor. Look healthy, and they label
you “fat”. Stay lean, and suddenly you’re
“unwell.” The truth is—criticism doesn’t depend
on you, it depends on them. So live your life on
your own terms, not on others’ opinions.
Beautifully captured in words by Ancita
Oshin Dsouza.
Poetry | Profit & Loss by Kishoo Barkur
These
may be drops of rain to you, but to me they are
tears—tears that rise from the deep pain of the
heart.” These lines resonate while reading
Kishoo Barkur’s Profit
and Loss. The poem sharply contrasts
two worlds: one where comfort creates the
illusion that everything is fine, and another
where poverty, hunger, and struggle define
everyday life. Set against a global political
climate that often prioritizes propaganda over
humanity, the poem reminds us of the innocent
lives—especially children—lost in conflict. A
powerful and thought-provoking work, it is truly
a must-read.
Editorial | WAR - 'Profit & Loss'
War
is not new; history books are filled with
accounts of countless conflicts. Since the dawn
of humanity, war has existed alongside it. Over
time, we have moved through different eras—the
radio era, the
television era, the digital
era, and the age of social
media. Today, however, we find
ourselves in what can be called the era
of propaganda. Falsehoods are
increasingly disguised as truth, while the paths
to discovering genuine truth grow ever narrower.
Has any war truly benefited humanity? Time and
again, it is humanity itself that suffers the
most. The poor—and especially children—bear the
greatest burden of these conflicts. A rational
editorial by
Valley Quadros.
Poetry | Hiroshima Child by Nazim Hikmet
War
does not merely result in deaths on the
battlefield; it generates layers of suffering
that extend far beyond it. The grief of
survivors, the loss of the innocent, and the
silent deaths of the poor and children—caught in
conflicts they neither initiated nor
understood—often remain underrepresented. This
raises an important question: who documents
these invisible tragedies? Who gives voice to
those rendered voiceless? In world literature, a
number of poets have undertaken this role.
Wilfred Owen (World War I), Mahmoud
Darwish, Carol Ann Duffy, and
Nazim Hikmet (World War II), among
others, have articulated the human cost of war,
foregrounding themes of loss, innocence, and
displacement. Such poetry endures across time,
functioning as both testimony and memory,
demonstrating how literature preserves human
experience beyond historical events.
News | National Seminar on 'Konkani Stories'
Ashawadi
Prakashan in collaboration with
Fr. Agnel’s College, Pilar organised a
National Level Seminar on Konkani Short
Stories. Dr. Chandralekha
D’Souza chaired the paper presentation
session. Vincy Quadros, Shailendra Mehta
and Valley Quadros
presented papers on Konkani short stories in the
Romi, Nagari and Kannada scripts respectively.
Administrator Fr. Antony D’Silva, Fr.
Frederick Rodrigues, Reshma Kaur Bamra, Valley
Quadros and Rajashree Sail
were present on the dais. The programme was
compered by Usha K Zaraunkar,
and the vote of thanks was proposed by
Queeva Fernandes.
News | National Seminar on 'Konkani Tiatr', Sod-Pormoll Journal
The
Dalgado Konkani Akademi
(DKA), in collaboration with
St. Xavier's College, Mapusa,
organised a National Seminar on “Konkani
Tiatr” in Goa. DKA’s first literary
journal in Romi script, Sod-Pormoll,
was released by Valley Quadros. Paper
presentations on three selected tiatrs written
by Thomazine Cardoza were the highlight
of the seminar. The session on “Goa..
Going.. Gone..?” and "Ami
Soglle Ek" was chaired by Dr. Cosma
Fernandes, while Valley Quadros
chaired the presentation on “Mhomvall
Vik.” Five transliterated books were
also released, and Thomazine Cardoza
was felicitated by Fr. Antony Salema
for his contribution to Konkani tiatr and
society.
Column | Kavya Darshan by Andrew L Dcunha
Since the year 2000, the digital era has given
new life to Konkani literature, particularly in
the Kannada script. Landmark poetry columns such
as
Kavitha Kullar (Melwyn Rodrigues,
2001),
Kavitha
Vhallo (Andrew L. Dcunha, 2002),
and
Kavitha
Daaiz (Valley Quadros, 2003)
marked this renewed creative surge.
Subsequently, Konkani poets across the globe
began engaging actively in poetry writing,
contributing to a vibrant and expanding literary
landscape. Andrew L. Dcunha, a
noted poet, short story writer, and discerning
critic, curates this column (KAVYA
DARSHAN) to deepen readers’ engagement
with poetry and its nuanced reading. In this
episode, he examines the multiple dimensions of
Cha Fra De Costa’s poetry,
offering critical insights and interpretative
perspectives. Readers are invited to share their
comments and feedback on this column/episode by
writing to
poinnariportal@gmail.com.
News | Ashawadi Prakashan's 100th Book Released in Goa
Ashawadi-25 (Poinnari Decennial
Special Issue), the 100th publication of
Ashawadi Prakashan, was released on 22 January
2026 during the National Seminar on
Spiritual Poetry in Konkani, held at
Carmel College, Nuvem. The
seminar was jointly organised by
Ashawadi Prakashan, Dalgado Konkani Akademi
(DKA), and Carmel College. In
addition to Ashawadi-25, eight other books were
released during the seminar. The programme was
inaugurated by Dr. Aldina Braganza,
Principal of Carmel College. Andrew L.
D’Cunha graced the occasion as the
Chief Guest, while Celso Fernandes,
President of Dalgado Konkani Akademi,
Queenie Viegas, Vice-Principal of
Carmel College, and Valley Quadros,
Editor of Poinnari, were present on the dais.
The digital release of e-books was carried out
by Sandesh Prabhudesai and
Dinesh Manerkar. The symposium
session was presided over by Dr.
Chandralekha D’Souza. Scholarly papers
were presented by Clarence Fernandes
(Nanu Marol), Fr. Jason Pinto,
Anju Sakhardande, and
Puja Sangodkar, focusing respectively
on the spiritual poetry of Andrew L.
D’Cunha, Fr. Pratap Naik, Prakash Padgaonkar,
and Jess Fernandes.The vote of
thanks was proposed by Vishwapratap
Pawar.
News | Audio Book #13: Konkani Beyond Scripts
(Audio
Book #13) ಬ್ರದರ್ ರೊಕಿ (ಆಂಡ್ರ್ಯೂ
ಎಲ್. ಡಿಕುನ್ಹಾ) ब्रदर रोकी
(आंड्र्यू एल. डिकुन्हा) Brother
Rockey - Konkani Short Story written
and presented by Andrew L Dcunha
for Ashawadi Prakashan. This story was written
in 1987 and was published in 'AMCHO YUVAK'
monthly. This audio book will follow some of the
finest short stories of Konkani, written in
various scripts across regions but in Konkani.
Please do not forget to SUBSCRIBE
our channel and share this short story with your
friends.
News | Audio Book #13: Konkani Beyond Scripts
(Audio
Book #13) ತಾಂಬ್ಡ್ಯಾ ಆಂಗ್ಲ್ಯಾಚೆಂ ಚೆಡುಂ
(- ಸುನಂದ್) तांबड्या आंगल्याचें
चेडूं (- सुनंद) the story written
and presented by Sunand (Joe
Dmello), a veteran author in Konkani and
English, based in Sydney, Australia. This audio
book will follow some of the finest short
stories of Konkani, written in various scripts
across regions but in Konkani. Please do not
forget to SUBSCRIBE our channel
and share this short story with your friends.
Video | Ashawadi Prakashan's Silver Jubilee
Ashawadi
Prakashan's Silver Jubilee and
Poinnari's Decennial
Celebration - A complete video of the
program held on 14 Dec 2025 at P.F.X.Saldanha
Auditorium, MCC Bank Mangalore.
News | Ashawadi Prakashan's Silver Jubilee
Ashawadi
Prakashan (2000–2025)
celebrated its Silver Jubilee,
and Poinnari.com (2015–2025) marked its
Decennial Celebration in a grand manner on 14
December 2025 in Mangalore. On this occasion, 25
books were released in memory of Basti Vaman
Shennoy. Eight achievers from various fields
were felicitated for their outstanding
contributions. Bab Avil Rasquinha
was conferred the Lifetime
Achievement Award for value-based
journalism in Konkani, in recognition of his
selfless and dedicated service to the Konkani
language. The Late Denis D’Cunha
Memorial Transliteration (Kannada) Book
Award instituted by Ashawadi Prakashan
was awarded to “Nirvasit
Yatrichi Bhounddi” by Shailendra Mehta,
transliterated and edited into Kannada script by
Valley Quadros, and published by Ashawadi
Prakashan. The programme was inaugurated by
Fr. Ronald D’Souza. Dr.
Chandralekha D’Souza, Bab Nandagopal Shennoy,
Fr. Melvin D’Cunha, and Bai
Corrine Rasquinha were the chief
guests.
For a detailed report and
photographs, kindly visit:
