The 12th Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) got off to a start at International Centre Goa in Dona Paula on Thursday evening.
Award-winning poet, Ranjit Hoskote in his keynote address, hoped that GALF remains a platform for fearless discussions.
“Even as we take part in a festival here in peaceful circumstances, it is so hard to believe that in another part of the world, innocent children are being subject to death and destruction,” noted Hoskote, further adding, “We must raise our voices against tyranny.”
Padma Shri awardee, Mamang Dai, the other keynote speaker from Arunachal Pradesh also spoke about the need to respect diversity in our society.
The evening also saw some very spirited poetry reading by Tamil Nadu-based poet Meena Kandasamy.
The GALF artwork this year was made by the renowned 24-year-old Goan artist, Sagar Naik Mule, who was felicitated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his tremendous efforts in conservation of ‘Kaavi Art’ which uses the local red soil and a unique, traditional style.
The evening came to a close with the release of “Boy, Unloved” the latest translation of Damodar Mauzo’s Konkani novel, Jeev Divum Kai Chya Marum by noted translator and author, Jerry Pinto.
Pinto said that he very much cherished, the week he spent with Mauzo and his wife Shaila in their Goa home discussing the completed English translation of the book.
The festival is open and free to the public on February 16 and 17.
