All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan in Goa from May 4

Panaji, May 2 (UNI) The three-day 18th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan will commence at Curchorem in South Goa from May 4.

The literary meet will discuss among other things, the role of litterateurs in striking a balance between development and environment, and ways to enrich the Konkani literature.

Around 2000 delegates, including renowed writers, poets and research scholars from across the country, especially from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala besides Goa, are expected to participate in the biennial meet.

Sammelan executive president Dinesh R Manerkar, while speaking to reporters here today, said the event would be inaugurated by former National Book Trust president Dinesh Mishra in the presence of Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane.

Noted Tamil writer Shivashankari, who successfully completed the ''Knit India through Literature'' project recently, will be the chief guest at the valedictory function.

The meet is being organised in collaboration with the All India Konkani Parishad and the Konkani Kala Sahitya Kendra, Curchorem. This year's Sahitya Akademi award winners and celebrated writers will be feted on the occasion.

Separate ''kavi sammelans'' will also be held for the elderly and child poets. The meet will also discuss ways to foster children's literature.

Meanwhile, Mr J B Sequiera from Mangalore, who is a recepient of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award and also the Dr T M A Pai Foundation and Sandesha awards, was yesterday elected as president of the Sahitya Sammelan.

UNI