Noted Kokani writer, preacher Fr V J Menezes passes away

News Network

November 20, 2020

Mangaluru, Nov 20: Fr V J Menezes, a noted Konkani writer and preacher, passed away on Friday. He was 80.

Fr Menezes hailed from Hosabettu near Moodbidri. He had his early education at St Sebastian School and St Aloysius High School and learnt Latin at Coimbatore Seminary. He studied Philosophy and Theology and was ordained as Capuchin Priest at Hosabettu Church in 1968.

He had served as the Editor of "Sevak" the Konkani bi-monthly publication of Capuchin Fathers, Mangaluru. He had later studied Franciscan Spirituality in the United States and subsequently became a preacher and has conducted retreats across the nation. He also had the credit of being the first Indian to have studied Franciscan Spirituality in the US.

Besides English, Hindu and Kannada, he was also fluent in Latin, Malayalam and Tamil.

Fr Menezes had published two novels named ‘Tuja Albumacher Moji Tasvir’ and `Noyella.’ His two other books based on his experience are "Jinyenthle Anbhog" and "Hevshili ani Tevshili Koos".

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DK in-charge minister presents CM’s MSP plea to Prime Minister in Mangaluru

News Network

November 28,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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