Despite a 5000-year-old heritage, encompassing a rich cultural variety perhaps unmatched in diversity in proportion to its population, the Konkani language sadly continues to suffer neglect and faces the threat of extinction. At the First World Konkani Convention 1995, a resolution was passed for establishing a permanent abode for the preservation and promotion of Konkani language, art and culture. The surplusof the convention were thereby dedicated for this purpose. Since then all efforts has been directed at the establishment of a permanent entity to safeguard and nurture the Konkani heritage. The result is the P. Dayanand Pai & P Satish Pai Vishwa Konkani Kendra (World Konkani Centre) in Mangalore, coastal Karnataka, Southern India.
The Kendra has manifested itself at the scenic three-acre Konkani Gaon or Konkani Village, which is located in the Shaktinagar area of Mangalore, coastal Karnataka. The Kendra is envisioned as a thriving hub of Konkani - a place that the Konkani people living all over the world can rightfully consider as their "home". The activities of the Kendra will not only be focussed on the preservation of the Konkani heritage but also on its active promotion among the Konkani people living all over the world through the use of modern technology.
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