Panaji: A senior Goa Congress functionary
and writer is in the eye of a storm for his Konkani poem,
which has invited the ire of several women`s organisations.
N Shivdas, a Vice-President of Goa Pradesh Congress
Committee (GPCC) and President of Goa Konkani Academy, has
penned a poem titled `Chedi` (prostitute in Konkani language).
Former Goa Women`s Commission Chairperson Pramod
Salgaoncar, addressing a press conference last evening, said
Shivdas should tender a public apology for the poem, which is
"not only vulgar but also an insult to womanhood".
Shivdas said he regrets the title of the poem, which
compares life with a commercial sex worker.
"It was not intended to insult anyone. I wrote it some
years ago, when I was young," he said.
However, the women`s groups have demanded that the
Congress leader step down as President of Goa Konkani Academy,
a state-funded institution.
Auda Viegas, a women`s activist who heads Bailancho
Ekvott organisation, said the writer has no business to insult
women like this.
"What is he trying to say? Why such vulgarity?" she
asked.
Viegas, a former teacher, said the poem will leave bad
imprints on the minds of youths and students.
Salgaonkar has demanded that the book, which contains,
the poem, be withdrawn from circulation.
Tara Kerkar of Savera group said Shivdas should have
desisted from writing such a poem.
"Even if he wrote it, he had no business to publish and
bring it in public domain," she said, adding, it is ironical
that the writer has devoted the book to his mother.
PTI
