Kavitaa Trust

The Kavitaa Trust is an Indian charitable trust, dedicated to Konkani Poetry. The Trust was established in 2006 by Sahitya Akademi awardee and Konkani language activist Melvyn Rodrigues.

Origin and Organization

The Trust was founded in the year 2006. The webpage of the trust www.kavitaa.com was existing since 2002, where the all the details of its various activities is published. The details are provided in in Konkani language in two scripts Kannada and Devanagari. The trust is located in Mangalore, India.
Trustees are:
1. Melvyn Rodrigues
2. Kishore Gonsalves (Kishoo Barkur)
3. Andrew L D'Cunha
4. William Pais
5. Averyl Rodrigues

Vision

To function as a "School for Propagation of Konkani poetry.

Mission

To create a worthy atmosphere to write, study and interpret Konkani poetry. To strive towards ameliorating quality and dignity of Konkani poetry, thus to provide international status and respect for Konkani literature/litterateurs.

Awards

Joseph Mathias and Family Kavitaa Award

Every year the trust confers "Joseph Mathias and Family Kavitaa Award" to the poets who have given commendable contribution to [Konkani Poetry]. Visit List of Awardees of this award. The award is sponsored by Merit Freights Systems, Dubai

Endowment Lectures

James and Shobha Mendonca Endowment Lecture on Poetry is an annual feature and one of the important programmes of Kavita Trust. ]
So far, the following dignitaries have given the endowment lectures:
1. Gulzar in 2012
2. Ashok Vajpeyi in 2013
3. Jerry Pinto in 2014
4. Arundhathi Subramaniam in 2015

Competitions

All India Konkani Poetry Reciting Competition for Children

Every year the trust conducts Poetry Reciting Competition for children from age below 15 years. The award was established by Nelson & Lavina Rodricks in the year 2014, in the memory of Konkani poet Cha. Fra. D'Costa.

All India Konkani Poetry Writing Competition for Students

Every year Trust conducts Poetry Writing Competition for Students to foster their poetry skills. This competition is open for students from 6th grade to 10th grade. This competition is in the memory of Late Charles and Teresa Rodrigues.. They are parents of poet and Sahitya akademi awardee Melvyn Rodrigues.

Every year, in the month of July, Kavitaa Trust, sends the intimation to the schools AbOUT the details of the competition. The entries should reach the trust by Nov. 15th. Prize distribution is done during "Kavitaa Fest" in January. This competition has been conducted since 2007 and details can be found at trust website

All India Konkani Poetry Reciting Competition for Youth

Every year the trust conducts Poetry Reciting Competition for Youth between ages 15 years to 30 years. This competition is sponsored by Rohan and Lavita Monterio.

Kavitaa Fest

Every year, on the second Sunday of the January, Kavitaa Trust, conducts Kavitaa Fest. First such festival was conducted in 2007. From then every year, this festival conducted, at different locations. Kavitaa Fest 2016 is the latest in the series. Many Poets and poetry enthusiasts from Goa, Mumbai, Kerala, Karnataka and other places participate in this event.

Publications

Kavitaa trust has so far published about 22 poetry collections, critical essays and other books.