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Mangaluru, Sep 20, 2024 : Promising youth writer Kiran Nirkan ( Floyd Kiran Moras ) chosen for Leo Rodrigues Family Kittall Youth Award 2024. He has been contributing to Konkani literature in the form of poetry, essays and children literature. Recently Kavita Publications - publication wing of Kavita Trust has published Nakthiram – collections of poems exclusively written for young children.

A graduate in business administration with a strong passion towards Konkani language and literature he perused post graduate Konkani diploma from Institute of Konkani, St Aloysius deemed to be university and scored third rank by presenting research essay on the subject “depiction of nature in Vally Vogga’s short stories”.

With flair towards journalism he served as editor of Nirkanchem Keern and on the editorial board of Amcho Yuvak, diocesan monthly for the youth. He is a regular columnist on ARSO Konkani monthly. Being an active member of Karnataka Non Residents Indians Association, UAE he submits reports on literary and cultural events held in and around UAE to the media houses of Karnataka.

As an organiser he was instrumental in organising two editions of unique musical Geet Gozalin Dubai with celebrated lyricists Wilson Kateel and Melvyn Rodrigues. He hosted multilingual poetry sessions in the UAE. As an ardent supporter of blood donation in the UAE he campaigns the cause of donating blood and saving life and so far donated blood for 38 times.

With a sole motto of encouraging the youth writers of Konkani, Abu Dhabi based NRI Entrepreneur, staunch Konkani supporter and Philanthropist Sri Leo Rodrigues sponsoring Kittall Youth Award for the last 12 years. The award carries a purse of Rs.25,000/- and citation.

Kittall is the premier Konkani literature web portal published nonstop since 2011 by Konkani poet, storyteller, critic and presently the member of Konkani Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi - H M Pernal. JoCy Siddakatte, Wilma Bantwal, Stany Bela, Melwyn Kolalgiri, Wilson Kateel, Roshu Bajpe, Clive D Souza are prominent youth writers bestowed with Leo Rodrigues Family Kittall Youth Award in the past.

The Award to Kiran Nirkan will be presented on Saturday 5th October 2024 at P F X Saldanha Auditorium, MCC Bank Admin Office at Hampankatta at 7.00 p.m. Member of Legislative Council Sri Ivan D Souza will be chief Guest and Sri Anil Lobo, Chairman of MCC Bank will be the guest of honour to the award presentation ceremony.