Pravin Kamath, affectionately known as Pravin Da amongst our founding members has always been an encouraging supporter.

Pravin Da’ brings to us an interview that he took of Shri Kochi Ananth Bhat, duly videographed by his son Neeraj at the Vashi Balaji Mandir, where  Chaturmasya celebrations of Shrimad Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji of Shri Kashi Muth Samsthan was in progress.

Shri Ananth Bhatmaam, has composed numerous bhajans and Bhaavgeet in Konkani language, which is among the largest konkani contribution in poetry and devotional literature. In this context, we also respectfully bow towards the gigantic statures of Bhadragiri Achuth Dasji and Keshav Dasji, who have granted us the nectar of Harikatha in konkani, apart from english and kannada.

Kindly view the interview below

directions: press the play button. If the video doesnt play continuos.. press the pause button after pressing play.. allow the movie to load for sometime as indicated by a red line and then press play again.. the movie would play continuous.

Shri Ananth Bhatmaam’s bhajans are popularly sung amongst GSB households which include “Amgelo Devu Shri Vyasu Raghupati” and many which have been duly rendered by great Saraswat singers like Pandit Upendra Bhat-maam and Shri Puttur Pandurang Nayak-maam.

Ananth-maam’s magnificent works includes a Konkani translation of Shri Ramcharita Maanas in the same rhythmand context as the orignal composition in Brijbhaasha hindi.

Radio Idli will continue to bring more content regarding Bhatmaam, while we offer this post with due respect towards his greatness which he expresses with divine humbleness.

Regards,

Nagesh Pai

Tale of the Honest Cow

contributed by Shri Ramesh Pai, Abu Dhabi

Editor’s note: Shri Ramesh Pai, from Abu Dhabi, (photograph at left) brings to us yet another generous contribution - a Treasure of Konkani culture and literature,

recorded in 1992 at Kerala. This treasure is for all of us to hear, imbibe, and share with all our brethern. Radio Idli team thanks Ramesh maam for giving this opportunity to share this true cultural treasure. Here is what Ramesh-maam has for us:

The Story begins:

A cow, its calf and a Tiger - No, this is not the beginning of a puzzle. These are the characters in a Konkani folk tale which is popular across the west coast. The story is not only worth listening, but also worth learning.

It happened in a town called Karaamati (Or Teraavati, according to a different version). There lived a cow by name Ganga (See, how consciously has the anonymous author named the cow after the holy river) with a calf. Nearby was a forest, wherein lived a tiger. The cruel animal thrived on eating one cow each day. Everyday the cows would decide whose turn would be.

Hear the folk tale embedded in a rhythmic composition:

Bhovali_Gaayi sung by Aparna Pai at Kerala Konkani Academy, 1992 (check the audio commentary on the same by Adv. Uday Bhembre later in this article)

During 1992, when Kerala Konkani Academy conducted a Seminar on Konkani Folk Literature at Ernakulam, the song ‘Bhovvali Gaayi’ was sung by Ms. Aparna K. Pai. The audio clips are also available in the esnips folder ‘www.esnips.com/web/konkanifolkaudios’. It will be interesting to listen an analysis of the same tale, as heard in Goa, from a prominent Konkani writer Adv. Uday Bhembre, which is also available in the same above link. He has nicely brought out the ethical and moral values of the folk song in sweetly chiseled words.

konkani-folk-song-commentary-Uday-Bhembre

And the day arrived, when (more…)