e-khabbar

Last Update: Dec 15, 2009

Note: ekhabbar, the web edition of Khabbar is published on the web a quarter after the hard copy of Khabbar has been mailed to ALL dues paying families in North America. Families wanting to get the latest issue of Khabbar, please, click SUBSCRIPTION FORM .

Konkani Sabha held their annual picnic on Saturday June 13^th 2009 at Reichler Park, South Brunswick, NJ

Konkani Kids Club of Konkani Association of Ontario (KAO) held a 3 day, 2 nights fun-filled outdoor camp from June 26 to June 28, 2009.

The Michigan Konkani Association (MKA) held their annual picnic on Saturday July 18^th 2009 at Freedom Park in Canton Twsp., MI. Their annual gala event of Ganesh Chathurthi/Asthami followed by Dhandia was also held on Saturday August 29^th 2009 at Methodist Church on Square Lake.

The Konkani Association of Ontario (KAO) held their annual summer picnic on Saturday July 25^th  at Richards Memorial Park in Mississauga, Ont.

The Konkani Association of Southern California (KASC) held their annual picnic on Saturday July 25^th 2009 at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine, CA.

The American Midwest Konkani Association ( AMKA) held their annual summer picnic on  Saturday August 8^th 2009 at Phillips Park in Aurora, IL.

2009 Bhanap Picnic was held with lots of fun and enjoyment on Aug 8^th  in New Jersey.

Houston Area Amchigale Samaj (HAAS) celebrated the Janmasthami event on Saturday August 15^th at the Sugarland Community Center in Sugar land, TX. The event was graciously sponsored by Ashwin & Kasturi Bhatt of Houston, TX.  The evening was filled with a variety of entertaining programs like bhajans, fancy dress, interactive Lord Krishna story-telling and quiz, dance performances, Dahi Handi and then the finale with Dhandiya. The following persons helped make the function a success:

Parents and their kids who participated, Bhajan singers, Vinay Pai, Pushpa Desai, Ramkrishna/ Maya Prabhu, Sharda Pai, Jayant Kabad, Anushri, Anshul Haldipur and Anasuya Kabad and all eager volunteers.

DVD copies for $15 are available from Shanti Bhatt (shantibhatt_2005@yahoo.com)  and/or Chetan Bhat chetan.bhat@yahoo.com)

The Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) had their 25th Annual Picnic on Sat. August 15^th 2009 at the Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. It was attended by 150 members. We started off the picnic with an exciting cricket match between Mumbaikars and the Rest of India. The Food committee outdid themselves with yummy fare which included chips and homemade salsa for starters, barbecued chicken, farm fresh veggies, corn and Subway sandwiches for lunch followed by delicious 'harshaLe' and 'goLi bajjo'. Games like 20 questions, 8 corners and Bingo were enjoyed by all. A big 'Thank You' to committee members, volunteers and to all those who attended the picnic for helping make it a fun day.

Submitted by Mohan Pai, mpai111@yahoo.com

Konkani Association of Georgia (KAOG) held their annual picnic on August 29th at West Bank Park. The location of the shelter overlooking Lake Sidney Lanier with Georgia Blue Ridge in the background was truly pleasing to the heart and mind. The weather stayed good all day with a high of 85 degrees with no rains.

By: -   Vishwa Konkani Sardar BASTI VAMAN SHENOY

Basti Vaman Shenoy Amrithothsav Committee is formed to celebrate Platinum Jubilee of Vishwa Konkani Sardar and Vishwa Saraswat Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy under the Chairmanship of Dr. P. Dayananda Pai, Bangalore. The Celebrations will be held in Mangalore in 3rd week of December 2009. Hon. Shri Digambar Kamat, Chief Minister of Goa, Hon. Shri Gurudas Kamat, Union Minister, Government of India will participate. Committees are formed in Mumbai, Goa, Uttara Kannada districts to organise interlanguage Seminars and Konkani cultural programmes.  

A 3 days’ workshop on Konkani Bala Geetha (Konkani Lullabies) was held on 25, 26 and 27 June 2009 at Shri Kashi Mutt, Malleshwaram, Bangalore under the auspices of Konkani Bhas Ani Samskriti Pratistan and sponsored by Shri P. Dayananda Pai & P. Satish Pai Trust.  Shri Chetan Kumar S. Naik, Director, All India Radio, Bangalore inaugurated the workshop, Directed by Dr. Jyotsna Kamat, Bangalore. Smt. Chitra Shirali was the Resource person, about 40 women from Sirsi, Karwar, Kumta, Honavar, Davanagere, Shimoga, Mangalore and Bangalore participated.

H.H. Shri Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji of Shri Samsthan Kashi Mutt, H.H. Srimad Vidyadhiraja Wader Swamiji of Shri Gokarn Parthagali Jeevotham Mutt, Shri Shivananda Saraswathi Swamiji, Shri Kavale Mutt, Sri Sadyojatha Shankerashram Swamiji, Chitrapur Shirali Mutt are performing Chaturmasya of Virodhinama Samvatsara at Haridwar, Ammembal, Mudipu(Mangalore), Belgaum and at Shirali Mutts, respectively from 12th July 2009.

Sri Vaman R. Kamath a great Social leader and Vice President, Reliance Industries Ltd. was conferred with `Yekalavya’ Award by H.H. Srimad Vidyadhiraja Thirtha Wader Swamiji at Ammembal, Mudipu, Shri Gopalakrishna Temple on 12.7.2009 for his meritorious services in the fields of Social – Religious activities.

Navaratna Award : 9 internationally known Konkani personalities, viz.,   1) Shri Bhadragiri Achuthdasji, 2) Shri M.V. Kamath, 3) Shri R.V. Deshpande, 4) Shri P. Dayananda Pai, 5) Shri K.V.Kamath, 6) Dr. Ramdas M. Pai, 7) Shri J.P.Nayak, 8) Shri Srinivas V.Dempo, 9) Dr. K.A.Ashok Pai were honoured and conferred with `Navaratna Awards’ by H.H. Sri Vidyadhiraja Thirtha Wader Swamiji of Shri Gokarn Parthagali Mutt on 2.8.2009 at Ammembal Shri Gopalkrishna Temple for their meritorious services in various fields.  Shri Digambar Kamat Hon. Chief Minister of Goa felicitated the awardees.

A `Konkani Lunch’ was hosted to the above Konkani Navaratnas at World Konkani Centre, Mangalore.  Hon. Shri Digambar Kamat, Hon. Chief Minister of Goa released the 3rd issue of Vishwa Konkani Vartha Patr(World Konkani Bulletin) on the occasion and announced 15.00 lakhs from Govt. of Goa to World Konkani Centre project. 

Well known R.S.S. and social leader Shri Mohan R. Shenoy (West Coast Paper) and husband of great Kannada writer Smt. Padma M. Shenoy expired on 7.8.2009 at Mangalore.

Hon. Sri Krishna Palemar, Minister for Fisheries & Ports and newly elected Member of Parliament Shri Nalina Kumar Kateel and Shri N. Yogish Bhat, M.L.A., Mangalore visited World Konkani Centre on 14.8.2009 and praised the efforts of visionaries.  The have offered all help from Government of Karnataka. 

A Think Tank Committee meeting was held to formulate future plans and projects for World Konkani Centre on 18.8.2009 at World Konkani Centre.  Renowned Scholars, writer and Konkani artistes from Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore and Kerala attended the meeting.  Short term and Long term strategies were discussed for the development of Konkani language, literature, art and culture and folklore.

Ganesh Chaturti was celebrated throughout the Country with pomp and pleasure on 22.8.2009.

`Konkani Manyathay Divas’ was observed in many places in Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala with participation of Konkani writers, leaders and school and college students on 20th August 2009 as earlier years to mark the inclusion of Konkani language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution in 1992 and as a National language (by Konkani Bhasha Mandals, All India Konkani Parishad, Goa).

Inter State and Pradeshik Konkani Vocabulary workshop was held at Konkani Department of St. Aloysius College, Mangalore in association with Sahitya Akademi.

By: -   Sheila Shenoy Reddy, Savannah, GA

The Konkani Youth Convention was held in Washington D.C. this past August.   With change in the air, the Konkani Youth Committee of D.C. transformed traditional themes of previous conventions by incorporating modern ideals of the preservation of our earth, which caused participants to look inward in understanding the potential everyone has to positively affect the future of our community, our earth, and ourselves. 

The convention commenced with the theme of sustainability.  The D.C. Committee initiated dialogue amongst participants about incorporating the concept of sustainability and accountability throughout our actions thus making our community stronger each day.  The programming created through out the weekend aimed to “reduce our collective environmental [carbon] footprint, while significantly increasing our collective mind print.”   

Saturday morning, fellow attendees presented the seminar: Dii: The Art of Giving.  The seminar focused on initiatives fellow Youth have taken in giving back to the community, locally and globally.  The seminar provided information for those interested in how they can give back.  A future philanthropic effort that resulted from the seminar was to volunteer at an Ashram in India this December 2009 – for more information please visit KonkaniChatter.com.

With such great history visible around every corner in D.C., participants were taken on a guided tour Saturday afternoon.  Some sites visited were the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and the White House.  In the midst of the tour, attendees were able to bask in the sun of the Main Mall with some delicious empanadas.

After viewing the breath-taking sites of D.C., attendees participated in two seminars: The District: Engaging in Politics and Shakti: Fueling our Health & Wellness.  The politics seminar engaged various speakers with different political views and allowed attendees to question today’s political climate and its affects on ourselves and our community.  The Shakti seminar presented medical, nutritional, mental and spiritual awareness in further strengthening our lives.  Both seminars challenged attendees to think outside of the box and experience differing viewpoints of everyday things. 

On the last day, the convention presented NAKYA, the North American Konkani Youth Association.  NAKYA was created with the aim to foster and cultivate the Konkani community by educating Konkani youth about our ancestral past while creating a community consciousness that supports professional and social development. The mission of NAKYA is to instill shared Konkani values and culture while recognizing the unique experiences of Konkani youth in North America.  For more information, please visit nakya.org.

Unlike conventions past, the D.C. Konkani youth committee provided ample opportunities for people to mingle and meet others from all over the country with various backgrounds.  Many attendees expressed that this convention assisted them in creating bonds and a personal sense of community that they hadn’t felt yet.  Though the convention had approximately 120 participants, each person felt as though it was a cozy and inviting environment to meet others.

All in all, the hard work of the Konkani Youth Committee of D.C. transpired into a truly amazing convention for all participants.  Unanimously, each participant expressed that this would not be their last convention and that they all walked away with a positive experience from that weekend.

Good Job D.C.! 

By: -   Vivek Ullal, Simi Valley, CA

About two years ago, Diana Pinto, a Physical Therapist from India, joined University of Southern California’s Masters Program in Biokinesiology, and found about KASC from the web. She wrote to us to inquire whether she was eligible to join as a student member, as she was a Konkani, originally from Mangalore, and  brought up in Mumbai. We assured that she was, as we firmly believe that KASC is a forum for all Konkani speaking people and their non Konkani speaking spouses and other close relatives, irrespective of caste, creed, color or religion. Unfortunately she couldn’t attend any KASC events as she was busy as a student.  Diana graduated from USC and briefly moved to New York City. Meanwhile she entered the beauty pageant competition for Miss India America 2009, and was crowned Miss India America 2009 and Miss Photogenic!  Obviously beauty and brains come bundled together. Diana is moving back to L.A. We assured her that she can still continue being a KASC member. Congratulations, Diana and we hope you will be free to attend KASC events in future, now that you are no longer a student!

Jinnder’s 18th Annual Miss India America Beauty Pageant is organized by Sahara 1 TV, South Asia Magazine, along with Dr. Darshan Shah of Beautilogie Malibu and JINmodels.com. The Pageant was on August 7, 2009 at the Long Beach Hilton.  Proceeds went to the Jagruti Charity.

You may see write-up and pictures of Diana in the beauty pageant by going to the following web sites:

www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=8011      

www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=141705 

As appeared in the June 20-26, 2009 issue of The South Asian Times; Submitted by kprabhu@earthlink.net

Dr Bhat promotes medical education as shortage of doctors looms over USA

Addressing the graduating class of 2009, Dr. J. Ganesh Bhat, MD, Chancellor of Xavier University School of Medicine in Aruba, (XUSOM) encouraged the graduates to be compassionate while delivering excellent care to their patients.

In a ceremony held in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta earlier this month, he also exhorted them to assume a larger role in shaping the current debate in health care delivery in the country. Dr Bhat, a member of the Board of Directors of XUSOM was named the Chancellor in 2009 by President Ravi Shankar Bhooplapur. In appointing Dr. Bhat to the position, Chairman of the XUSOM Board, Edwin Casey, cited his vast experience in the field of medical education and felt that the institution will benefit tremendously from his leadership.

He told SATimes that he got associated with XUSOM because of the looming shortage of doctors in the US. He said that the existing medical schools in the country are not producing enough doctors required to take care of the current need.

With expanding population, especially of the elderly, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 200,000 doctors by 2020 in USA. Dr. Bhat felt that the country will also have tremendous need for more doctors especially in view of the current administration’s desire to provide health insurance for over 45 million uninsured individuals in the country. Dr. Bhat is considered an expert in health care economics especially in the field of chronic kidney disease.

Students of XUSOM, which was founded in 2004, complete their basic medical courses in Aruba and their clinical training is completed in teaching hospitals in the USA. The assimilation of the graduates in the mainstream of US medical establishment is excellent as shown by the graduating class of 2009, many of whom have been successful in obtaining residency positions in good institutions in the country, Dr. Bhat informed.

A kidney specialist, Dr. Bhat holds medical and postgraduate degrees from Mysore Medical College and Kasturba Medical College in India. He completed his fellowship in nephrology at New York University as well as New York State Kidney Disease Institute. He has been principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous research projects related to kidney diseases and is well published in several peer reviewed medical journals. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine in Nephrology.

Dr. Bhat has held numerous teaching, administrative and leadership positions in health care sector in New York area including faculty positions at New York University School of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine and Albert Einstein School of Medicine. He has held the position of Director of Nephrology at several area hospitals including Queens Hospital Center, Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Medical Director and interim Chairman of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital at Forest Hills, New York.

Dr. Bhat co-founded Atlantic Dialysis Management Services (ADMS) with Dr. Nirmal Mattoo in 1997. ADMS is the third largest independent physician owned Dialysis Company in New York State with over 1500 patients, 400 employees and 45 nephrologists. ADMS owns and manages 10 dialysis centers in downstate New York. ADMS is considered one of the largest employers in Queens County, New York. Dr. Bhat was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Kidney Care Council for his clinical expertise and the understanding of health care economics in general and End Stage Renal Disease program in particular.

Dr Bhat is involved in a few charities, more prominently the Association of Indians in America, of which he was Parliamentarian and Secretary and also served as the Chairman of the Medical Council for several years. He is a Life Member of the esteemed organization.

Dr. Bhat and his wife Seema live in Malba, New York. His daughter is also a nephrologist and a son who is studying medicine.

As appeared on South Asian Times, Aug 1-7, 2009 issue

Prominent South Asian businessman and political activist Andy Shenoy has been appointed by New York Governor David Paterson to serve on the Tourism Advisory Board of the Empire State Development Corporation.

Shenoy, the only Indian-American to serve on the advisory board, has earned a good reputation throughout the New York State and in the U.S. for his tireless work promoting economic ties between New York State and several Indian states.

“It is indeed an honor to serve on the advisory board at such a critical time,” said Shenoy, president of Trivision group Inc. “New York State is one of the top travel destinations for tourists from around the world. We must do all we can to enhance the image of our state. The world, especially India loves New York,” he said and added that he was “excited to serve the people of New York in his new position.” “I want to thank Governor Paterson for this wonderful opportunity,” Shenoy said. “We must continue to strengthen our ties with India and the South Asian community. This is a relationship that provides a mutual benefit for everybody,” he said of his appointment.

Shenoy is no stranger to the job having served during the past decade as an informal ambassador between local government officials and the Indian and South Asian communities and high level government officials in India. He has also served as President of Indo-American Promotion - a nonprofit organization promoting greater understanding and economic development locally between India and with the South Asian communities. Shenoy has assisted former U.S., Senator Alfonse D'Amato, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Governors George E. Pataki and Eliot Spitzer to promote New York State aboard.

In Pataki administration, he served as special advisor for South-Asian Affairs. In 2006, Shenoy lead the New York state delegation and accompanied Frank Levin, the then Federal under secretary of Commerce for International Trade on a mission to India. Shenoy received the Governor's Award of Excellence for his significant contribution to the social, economic and cultural development of the state and the nation in

2005.

In 2003, Shenoy was instrumental in coordinating the September visit of the India Prime Minister with state officials to discuss bilateral trade agreements. Shenoy also serves on the board of the Battery Park Authority.

Following is the highlight of the KONKANI SABHA activity for the year 2009

Diwali:

Date:      Saturday, October 10^th 2009

Time:     3:00 PM to 8:00 PM          

Location: Shri Venkateswara Temple Community Center, Bridgewater, NJ

780 Old Farm Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Tel: (908) 725-4477

Cost:      Registration and Payment by October 1st - $16 (12 years and older) and $9 (ages 6 to 12)

Registration after Oct 1st and at the door - $18 (12 years and older) and $11 (ages 6 to 12)

Advance Registration and payments will also be accepted at the picnic

Activities: Variety Entertainment, Socialization, Appetizer and Dinner

Visit our website at WWW.KonkaniSabha.org  for further details, directions and updates on our activities.  Anyone interested in volunteering to organize the events and activities, and/or in performing at the Diwali function please contact the office bearers.

President                Gurudatt Kamath                               (732) 274-9542    gurudatt_kamath@hotmail.com    

Treasurer               Santosh Kamat                   (908)-251-5221   santosh.kamat@utoronto.ca           

Secretary               Ganesh Kudva                     (908) 251-5162    ganeshmkudva@yahoo.com          

We once again thank you all for your support.  We hope to have continued support and involvement from all of you in the coming years. We also ask each of you to spread the word to any Konkanis you know and have them send their contact information and email addresses. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact any of us.  Our email address is konkanisabha@gmail.com  Also visit our website at http://www.konkanisabha.org/ for details and updates.

The NAKA Board now consists of:

Vasanth Bhat, Damodar Baliga and Nina Padukone (Founding members),  Ramesh Kamath & Bharat Shiralkar, Vasant Acharya & Sandhya Kamath, Suren Kamath, Sudhir Golikeri & Suresh Shenoy, Ramadas Kamath, Ashok Bhatt &  Sadanand Mankikar, Ravi Baliga.  Seema Kamath, Ranjit Shiralkar & Sheila Shenoy Reddy  (Youth).

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If any North American Konkani have any constructive suggestions, please, contact any of the NAKA Board Members or send them to NAKA, 2465 Bergen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11234. Phone: (718)-251-4795 and Email: naka1@indiatimes.com

This quarter, after the successful Konkani Youth Convention – 2009, the NAKA Board has been busy in finding ways to accommodate the newly formed youth organization (NAKYA) into the community fold.

NAKA - Statement Of Accounts

Signed: Damodar Baliga,

 Treasurer, NAKA

We engaged an attorney to formally incorporate and file papers for non profit status. A title search resulted in naming the corporation as “Konkani Charitable Fund Inc. “. We received State of California approval for this corporation on April 10th 2009. Following this we received an IRS identification number on 18th of May. With this approval we have now finalized our By Laws and are ready to file form 1023 for non profit stats by 15th of June. Approval could take up to six months if there are no issues that IRS can object to.

To date we have received $8000 in donations and have awarded $4000 to Anandashram. Once we get formal approval from IRS we will seek donations from Konkani Community. The implementation team has already developed a list of eligible Konkani organizations in India . The Board of Directors of Konkani Charitable fund are eager and anxious to move forward this worthy effort in an expeditious manner. I will keep you informed as we make progress.

 Devu Baren Koro

Ramesh Kamath,
On behalf of KCF

SAVE THE DATES: JULY 5-9, 2010

Thank you to all in the Konkani community who took the time to respond to the online survey, allowing the Southern California Konkani Cruise Committee to gauge the tremendous amount of interest in a 2010 Konkani cruise.  Over 85 responses were received from all around North America, representing a minimum of 205 potential cruisers (and approximately 106 potential staterooms).  As a result of this overwhelmingly positive response, and knowing there are a lot more Konkanis who plan to attend but who did not respond to the survey, the Southern California Konkani Cruise Committee is moving ahead with plans for a cruise from Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico (via Catalina Island), July 5-9, 2010.

Details are being finalized with Carnival so keep an eye out for an email or other communication with information on how to register for the cruise (registration will be directly through Carnival). As additional information is received, it will also be posted on the official website for the Konkani cruise at the following address:

http://www.eteamz.com/KonkaniCruise2010

Bookmark the site and visit frequently to stay on top of the most up-to-date news!

Best Regards, Ramadas Kamath and the Southern California Konkani Cruise Committee.

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