Life-size statue of ‘Vishwa Konkani Sardaar’ Basti Vaman Shenoy to be inaugurated on Feb 8

Mangaluru: A life-size statue of the late Basti Vaman Shenoy will be unveiled at the World Konkani Center at Shaktinagar. The World Konkani Centre is installing the statue of its founder late Basti Vaman Shenoy in the hope of perpetuating his worthwhile achievement and contribution to the Konkani language and culture.

The 6.5 feet tall, 250kg statue made of bronze was cast by sculptors in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh. Molten bronze was poured into the life-like mould sculpted out of clay.

Built at a cost of Rs 10 Lakhs, the statue was sponsored by the honorary president and passionate supporter of the World Konkani Centre Dr P Dayanand Pai.

“The statue of Basti Vaman Shenoy is a spitting image of his usual courtesy style. It will be an inspiration to scores of his fans and close aides,” said Nandagopal Shenoy, president of the World Konkani Centre and added that it will be unveiled on the evening of February 8, at an event where chief minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant will be in attendance.

Basti Vaman Shenoy, or ‘Basti Maam’ as he was fondly called, worked tirelessly for the cause of the Konkani language. After taking retirement from his bank job, he convened the Konkani Jatha in 1991-92 for putting forward the demand for the inclusion of the Konkani language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Besides his activism for the recognition of Konkani, Basti Maam actively partook in the literary scene. During his lifetime, he served two terms as the president of Konkani Sahitya Academy. His contributions earned him the honorary titles of “Vishwa Konkani Sardaar” and “Vishwa Saraswata Sardaar”