Basti Vaman Shenoy

Basti Vaman Madhav Shenoy (6 November 1934 – 2 January 2022) was an Indian Konkani activist, popularly known as "Vishwa Konkani Sardar" (World Konkani Leader) and was the founder of World Konkani Centre in Shakthinagar, Mangalore. His father Basti Madhav Shenoy, popularly known as Motra Madhav, was booking agent of the CPC Bus Service of Mangalore. Vaman Shenoy's mother was Gowri alias Bhagirathi. He passed out of Tenth Standard (SSLC) in 1952 from the SVS High School in Bantwal. He wanted to pursue higher education and become a teacher but due to his family conditions he had to leave school and join his father to help in his business. For a brief period he also worked in Canara Bank. Vaman Shenoy's father died in 1957 and with this the responsibility of whole family fell on the shoulders of Vaman Shenoy. and took part in Konkani dramas and theatrical activities during festivities in Bantwal. Chief Minister of Karnataka Veerappa Moily announced the establishment of Konkani Academy in the state. Thus Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy came into existence. Under his tenure Academy produced "Konkani Samanthar Shabdakosh", a series of books on stalwarts of Konkani community "Konkani Mahamanest Pustakmala" and a volume on showcasing the rich Konkani art form of Kavi murals "Konkanyali Kavikala" written by Dr. Krishnanand Kamath. In 1998 Academy organised a three-day "Konkani Kala Utsav" in New Delhi. President Basti Vaman Shenoy led the 130 member cultural team to showcase Konkani Culture at the capital city. He was instrumental in organising workshop for developing teaching material in Konkani language in collaboration of Central Institute of Indian Languages in 2001. This workshop successfully brought out a Konkani Primer Book called "Konkani Kalo".

In 2002, as the Organising Committee chairman, Basti Vaman Shenoy successfully organised the 20th Adhiveshan of All India Konkani Parishad in Mangalore.

In 2004 he became the president of All India Konkani Parishad, took charge at the 26th Adhiveshan held at Kozhikode.

Shenoy served as one of the three jury members for the 2015 Sahitya Akademi Award (Konkani).

Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation

KLCF was promoted by Konkani Bhasha Mandal Karnatak to fulfil the mandate of the delegates of World Konkani Convention to establish World Konkani Centre at Mangalore. It came into being immediately after the World Konkani Convention in 1995. Basti Vaman Shenoy became its president. Banker, philanthropist and social leader K. K. Pai became Chairman of the KLCF. The Foundation stone marking the beginning of construction work was laid in a ceremony in September 2005 by P. Dayanand Pai. The then Union Minister Oscar Fernandes and Cooperative Minister of Government of Karnataka Shri R. V. Deshpande were present. Basti Vaman Shenoy toured relentlessly to raise funds for this project in India and abroad.

Vishwa Konkani Abhiyan Under the auspices of KLCF, Basti Vaman Shenoy initiated a movement called Visha Konkani abhiyan aimed at creating opportunity of interaction between Konkani writers and scholars with their counterparts in other languages of the country. The Abhiyan was inaugurated at New Delhi on 12 October 2008 by former Union Minister Margaret Alva. M. Veerappa Moily released a book on Rashtrakavi M. Govinda Pai translated to Hindi from Konkani. Economist and Sanskrit scholar V. R. Panchamukhi (former chairman ICSSR) presided over the function. A seminar "Integration Through Languages" was held in which scholars from Panjabi, Hindi, Persian, Urdu, Kannada and Konkani languages participated. Similar programs were held in Baroda, Mumbai and Pune.

World Konkani Centre

World Konkani Centre, built on a 3-acre plot called Konkani Gaon (Konkani Village) at Shakti Nagar, Mangalore was inaugurated by Shri Digambar Kamat, Honorable Chief Minister of Goa on 17 January 2009. The World Konkani Centre named after chief patrons Dr. P. Dayananda Pai and P. Satish Pai consists of a library, a museum and convention facilities like boardroom, seminar hall and auditorium. As per the KLCF the centre is founded "to serve as a nodal agency for the preservation and overall development of Konkani language, art and culture involving all the Konkani people the world over."

On 6 March 2010, Vishwa Konkani Bhasha Samsthan (World Institute of Konkani Language) and World Konkani Hall of Fame were inaugurated by journalist Rajdeep Sardesai at World Konkani Centre. A Konkani ethnic shoppe was inaugurated by Ramdas Kamath U. (Senior Vice-president, Infosys Technologies Ltd.) on this occasion.

Awards and recognitions Shenoy was awarded the Rajyotsava Prashasti by Government of Karnataka in 2010 He is also the recipient of Language Award by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in 2008

Personal life and death Shenoy died at his home in Thumbe, on 2 January 2022, at the age of 87 due to age related illness. His wife Savithri had died several years ago. They have two sons, Madhav and Dinesh, and a daughter Vidya Kini.