Federation Day 2010
Bangalore, Jan 31: "Federation Day" – FKCA’s Annual get-together was held at
St. Joseph’s Indian High School grounds, Bangalore here on Sunday 31st January
2010. At 9:30am was the concelebrated Holy Mass in Konkani with Fr. Lawrence
D’souza, Director of St. John’s Hospital, as the main Celebrant. In his homily,
Fr. Lawrence D’souza asked all the Christians to spread the message of love to
the society.
Amidst a gathering of around 2000
people, his Excellency, the Governor of Karnataka, Shri. H.R Bhardwaj
inaugurated the function which was presided by Archbishop of Bangalore, Rev. Dr.
Bernard Moras. Karnataka Pradesh Congress President (KPCC) Shri R.V Deshpande
was the Chief Guest for the function.
Chairman of the Federation, Shri Charles Gomes welcomed the gathering. General
Secretary, Shri Naveen D’souza in his report, briefed the gathering about the
activities of the Federation. Speaking on the occasion, Shri R.V Deshpande said
that Konkani Catholics are the most peace loving people and Konkani is a
beautiful sweet language. He expressed concern on the recent church attacks
which predominantly is taking place only in Karnataka compared to other states
and echoed his sentiments and support to the Catholics on the same. He lauded
the contribution of Shri Wilfy Rebimbus as a Singer, and a writer to the Konkani
Community and felt he richly deserves the national awards such as Padma Shri and
Padma Bhushan. He said this could turn true with the help and support of the
Governor and the Archbishop.
His Grace Most Rev. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore requested Mangalore
Christians to show leadership in the society and help the downtrodden.
His Excellency, Governor of Karnataka, H.R. Bhardwaj called the Christians as
the light of the world and recalled the great contribution made by missionaries
to the nation especially in the field of health care and education.
Three eminent Konkani Catholics, who have made a mark in the social, business
and public life, were felicitated with the prestigious FKCA Awards. The three
awardees are: Shri Wilfy Rebimbus, who was conferred the LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD. Shri Adrian Joseph D’souza, Director of Southern Power Equipment Co. Pvt.
Ltd., Deccan Structural Systems Pvt. Ltd, Deccan Leather Fashions, Gibu
Fabrications Pvt. Ltd, as the ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD, and Shri Albert
Tauro, Chairman and Managing Director, Vijaya Bank, PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
AWARD.
Shri Adrian Joseph D’Souza
was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Born in 1960, He is a successful
businessman and industrialist involved in several leading manufacturing
companies in the capital intensive Power Equipments, Structural Systems,
Transformers and Leather Fashions. A rank-holder from Bangalore’s leading
Engineering College, R V College of Engineering, in Electrical Engineering, he
joined his father’s small sector business enterprise and through his vision,
dedication and hard-work expanded it cover diverse fields and thereby opening
new business and employment opportunities. Southern Power Equipment Co Pvt Ltd,
Deccan Structural Systems Pvt Ltd, Deccan Leather Fashions and Gibu Fabrications
Pvt Ltd, the four prominent companies in the Group having Sri D’Souza as
Director, have the enviable distinction of providing direct employment to about
1,500 persons and a total annual turnover of over Rs 160 crore. His brilliance,
dedication, hard-work and vision have turned him into an entrepreneur worthy of
emulation and envy.
Shri Albert Tauro was awarded the Professional Excellence award. He is a
leading banker with over 37 years of experience and turns 59 on March 11.
Hailing as he does from the undivided coastal Dakshina Kannada district, which
is known as the cradle of Indian Banking Industry, he began his banking career
with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mumbai, in 1971 after his post-graduation in
Commerce with CAIIB. He had his induction into commercial banking on September
10, 1975, when he left RBI to join Canara Bank as an officer. During his long
career spanning over 32 years, he has served the bank in several places in
different capacities. He rose to become the Executive Director of Central Bank
of India on June 6, 2007, and also served as the member of the Board of Centbank
Financial & Custodial Services Ltd and Centbank Home Finance Ltd. Sri Tauro is
an experienced and multi-dimensional banker with extensive exposure to every
conceivable area of banking. He was elevated as the Chairman and Managing
Director of Vijaya Bank on August 2, 2008 and will continue in the position
until superannuation till March 31, 2011.
Shri Wilfy Rebimbus was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award. He is a
multi-faceted and versatile personality and turns 68 on April 2.. Known for his
charming and affable nature, he is a gifted music composer, playwright and short
story writer and is a household name among all Konkani Catholics. Born in
Mangalore in a poor family, he came up in life the hard way and started
composing and singing Konkani songs at the young age of 14. By 15, he had
written his first Konkani play, ``Poishyamcho Somvsaar,’’ and got it staged
through the St Joseph’s Natak Sabha in Mangalore. He has contributed and
enriched the Konkani music world for over 50 years composing over 3,000 songs,
500 stage shows and conducted as many as 248 musical nites in Mangalore and
different parts of Karnataka and even abroad besides publishing 9 volumes of
Song Books. In addition, he has brought out a book, ``Kogul Gaaithaa,’’
comprising 40 volumes in 4 editions, 40 highly popular music audio cassettes
besides 6 volumes of devotional and 1 instrumental album. He has written 3
Konkani musical plays, Hazaar Umaalyamche Kazaar, Vechik Pooth and Mother
Theresa. He has also composed songs and written stories for Konkani Movies, Mog
ani Moipas, Bogsaane, Kaazaara Upraanth and Paadri besides writing the story for
the Konkani film, Tisri Cheet. He has showered with several awards including the
Karnataka Government’s prestigious Rajyothsava Award, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya
Academy Award, Sandesha and Daiji Puraskar Awards. His son, Vishwas Rebimbus
received the award on his behalf.
Anil Rego proposed the Vote of
Thanks. Smt. Albina Vaz compered the program in a highly professional way with
extremely apt and meaningful introductions and references to each aspect of the
function.
Asha foundation Education, which is ArchBishop’s initiative, aiming at helping
the poor and the needy students was presented the offertory collections
amounting to close to Rs 20,000/-. Mass and Choir arrangement was handled by
Konkani Catholic Welfare Association, Rajajinagar, Stage Management by Konkani
Samudai, Jayanagar and Ground Management and Reception Committee by Konkan
Catholic Association, Mathikere. All the above responsibilities were
meticulously planned and executed with precision by the respective associations.
After the main function there was a cultural program presented by the member
associations. Housie-Housie was conducted and there were lucky dip coupons with
exciting prizes. Various stalls were put up for varieties of breakfast, snacks,
chats and ethnic Mangalorean delicacies at the venue.
The Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA), which was established in
1998, has spread its activities far and wide with as many as 25 Associations of
Konkani Catholics not only in different localities of Bangalore but Mysore and
also abroad with those in UAE, Kuwait, USA, Canada and UK affiliated to it. Many
other Associations in Australia, New Zealand and other countries as also
different parts of the country are in the process of getting affiliated to the
FKCA.
Having emerged as strong and united voice of Konkani Catholics as also a
champion in espousing the cause of other minorities, the Federation has taken up
several people-friendly programmes like annual sports, free placement service
cell, matrimonial cell, entrepreneurs’ forum and free medical camps. It has also
launched a worldwide directory of Konkani Catholics on its website, www.fkca.net.
The Federation has helped over 60 members of its affiliated associations in
getting house sites in well-developed and BMRDA approved housing sites on the
Bangalore-Mangalore highway near Nelamangala, besides helping the needy by
organizing regular programmes to create awareness and focus attention of their
problems. It has also been regularly interacting with various governmental
agencies and authorities.
