Konkani assns fete Akademi award winner

March 4, 2012

Mangalore, March 3: “Poetry is a game of words and thoughts. A poem in head is like a pressure building up in a cooker. The thoughts come together and form into beautiful words,” opined Konkani Sahitya Akademi Award winner (2011) Melwyn Rodrigues at the felicitation programme organised for him by 17 Konkani organisations.

For thoughts to awaken, there should be disturbance. These disturbances makes a poet think and he will be lost in the poetic world. However, the materialistic demands of today's world have put limitations for one to be lost in thoughts. Everyday's demands make a person busy, makes him go away from creativity, he regretted.

Responding to the felicitation, he said that a poet is a small man. The only difference is that he has the ability to express the things that happen in the world differently and can see in the point of view of different people and things.

“I am indebted and humbled with this honour. I am just a small mustard seed. How can I repay your debt with interest,” he concluded.

Poet Pundalik Narayan Naik said that a poet fights with the hypocrisy present in the world, later he fights with words and hence a beautiful poem is born. “Many a time, a poet is not recognised, however I am delighted that Melwin got this highest honour when he is alive,” said Naik and added that this award has made Melwin and Kavita Trust a platform to enhance poetry.

“A person can achieve success only if they have a will to win. Melwin Rodrigues is a fighter. He is a disciplined and intelligent man. He does not wait for honours or the recognitions from the world. He is dedicated in his work and the honours follow his dedication,” said Mandd Sobhann Gurkaar Eric Ozario.

“Melwyn Rodrigues writes poetry, lives poetry and works for poetry. Rodrigues's book 'Prakraticho Paas' (Nature's Way), which got him the award is actually 'Samskriticho Paas' (A way to culture),” said Litterateur Mahadevi Desai.

Poetry rains

Poetry rained at the felicitation programme. As many as six songs written by Melwyn Rodrigues such as 'Jalma Disa' (On your birthday), 'Haon vetha' (I will go), 'Katiye Bitharlay' (Inside a coconut shell), 'Sorro' (Alcohol) were sung by Eric Ozario and team. Poems from 'Prakraticho Paas' were performed in a form of skit.

Rodrigues was honoured with a shawl, citation on the occasion.

The photo of Melwin Rodrigues was unveiled on the occasion and handed over to World Konkani Centre President Basti Vaman Shenoy to be hung in the WKC Hall of Fame.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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