Bangalore, June 5, 2022: Three eminent Konkani Catholics who have excelled in their respective field and in service to humankind were honored with the prestigious FKCA Awards here on Sunday.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on Fr Cedric Prakash SJ, a Human Rights, Reconciliation & Peace activist/writer while the Professional Excellence Award was presented to Justice John Michael Cunha, former Judge, High Court of Karnataka. The third category was the Entrepreneur/Enterprise of the Year Award which was bestowed on M/S. Brilliant Printers Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore.

Every year the awards are announced to recognize and honour the contribution of Konkani Catholics in their respective fields and to the community and the society.

Speaking at the 24th Federation Day of FKCA held at St Joseph’s Indian High School Auditorium, the chief guest, Justice V Gopala Gowda, former Judge, Supreme Court of India said, all religions are equal and a multi-religious country does not belong to one religion. He further added that in the name of religion few sects have tried to create problems. This will not be tolerated is the message to these troublemakers. I am warning them that our country has wise people, their defenders of the constitution, he added.

Further Justice Gowda expressed his deep pain by the way in which the constitution’s judgments and flouted and misapplied to the current situation either related to hijab or halal. He called all people to be fearless and brave.

“Literacy is spreading hatred. There is a difference between literacy and education. I pray that our nation has a greater number of educated people and not just literates. It is our responsibility to ensure that the unrest is controlled and arrested in the future. Let us hope there is a change in the system, in the judiciary, in the legislative councils, and in the media.,” said K Jayaprakash Hegde, Chairman of the Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission and Former MP & Minister, Government of Karnataka.

Prithvi Reddy, State Convener, Aam Aadmi Party – Bangalore, Abraham TJ, President of the Karnataka Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum & Indian Christian United Forum, and Most Rev. Robert Michael Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga, presided over the function. Also present was Kennedy Shanthakumar, Chairman of the Christian Development Council (CDC).

On the occasion, FKCA submitted a memorandum to the government on the anti-conversation ordinance and the atrocities on minorities. FKCA urged to repeal the ordinance and put a stop to the atrocities ensuring the rights enshrined in the constitution are upheld. The memorandum was handed over to K Jayaprakash Hegde.

The Federation Day event also had a special performance by young and famous artiste Remona Evette Periera which enthralled the audience. Performances and dances by Kalakar Group, Pallotti Baila Group, and a song by Fr Baptist Pais SVD felicitating the awardees.

FKCA which was founded in 1998 in Bangalore has grown into a giant organization with global reach. As many as 33 associations of Konkani Catholics in different parts of Bangalore, Mysore, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shivamogga, and 11 associations in other countries, including USA, UK, Canada, Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai, and Abu Dhabi in UAE are affiliated to FKCA.

The Federation works for the cause of Konkan Catholics and also in the larger interests of the community globally. FKCA today has made a strong presence by putting forth and taking up grievances of Konkani Catholic community with several governments and a united forum in fighting for their rights.