Bhatkal: Mangalore-based author Harsha Shankar Bhat's book 'Navaithi of Bhatkal' was launched on Sunday at Bhatkal's historic site 'Nawje Fatar' at Mushma street, in which the author shared her impressions quoting that a language is like a window. When we peek and see what is inside, the people inside the window will open the door when they see us outside. The Nawayati people opened the house door for me, took me inside and informed me about their language.
Addressing the Nawayath community, she said that we should be proud of our language, the Nawayath community has its own culture, the people here are mostly educated and the way of life is different from others. Nawayath is a community that goes to any corner of the world, wherever they go to earn money, they come back to Bhatkal, spend their money here, build their house here, this is what makes a community strong. She said, I became interested in learning about the Nawayati language when my father told me that the Muslims of Bhatkal have a different Konkani language.
On this occasion, she recited the poem "Apauta Tumka Gaon Ya" in her melodic voice, which was written by the well-known Nawayati poet Shabbir Baida.
Addressing the welcome speech, Gurudat Bantawal, said, after every 15 km there is a slight change in the language. He said that no matter how many languages are spoken in India, there is a similarity in all languages. According to him, the language spoken by the Nawayath people is called Nawayati. The language spoken by the people in Gujarat is Gujarati, the language of the people living in Punjab is Punjabi, the language of the Kashmir people is Kashmiri. The language of the people where they live is named after their respective area. Similarly, the language spoken in Konkan areas is called Konkani.
He gave a brief introduction of 'Vishwa Konkani Kendra', and said that through this center established in 2009, research work is being done in different languages of Konkani and those who do research on Konkani languages are given fellowships.
The book "Navaiti of Bhatkal" was launched by the President of Nawayath Mehfil, Mr. Jan Abdul Rahman Mohtasham. Maulana Ilyas Jakti Nadvi, Pradeep Pai and Atiqur Rahman Muniri, who were present as guests expressed their views on this occasion.
The program, organized jointly by Nawayath Mehfil, Sunshine Sports Center and Vishwa Konkani Kendra, began with the recitation of Holy Qur'an with Nawayati and Kannada translation, followed with Naat. Sunshine's anthem was also sung on the occasion and well-known Nawayati poet Samiullah Barmawar recited a poem of his own. Vishwa Konkani Kendra's President Waman Shenai presided over the function. Atiqur Rahman Shabandari compered the program.
Qamar Sada, Maulana Abdul Aleem Qasmi, Sunshine Sports Center General Secretary Qaisar Mohtasham, Siddique Ismail, Jafar Mohtasham, KV Kharvi, Vasant Kharvi, Pooja V Naik, Zubair Jukaku, and many others were present on the stage.