Proud to be a Konkani
by Shanthi Jaykumar Austin TX USA

A song presented at the 1994 K.I.S.S. picnic by the
Konkanis of Austin TX. This song was inspired by an
Australian Aboriginal song entitled Proud to be
Aborigine. Shanthi Jayakumar composed the song using
data from V. N. Kudva's book, History of Dakshinatya
Saraswats, and with help from the talented Austin
Konkanis , set it to music. The song is gaining
popularity as the theme song for many konkani
get-togethers.

Three thousand years we lived in peace
By the banks of river Saraswati.
Known as the Saraswats we came to be
That's how we lived till thousand A.D.
Known as the Saraswats we came to be.

Ninety-six Saraswat families,
Who came to be known as the Shenvis,
Moved to the Konkan by the sea,
That's how we came to be . . . Konkanis.
How we came to be . . . Konkanis.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We're everywhere. . . we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis,
Proud to be a Konkani.

In fifteen hundreds came the Portuguese,
That drove away some Konkanis.
All down the coast we came to live,
And this is the gist of our . . . history.
This is the gist of our . . . history.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We're everywhere . . . we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis,
Proud to be a Konkani.

Bharadwaj, Kausika, Vatsa,
Kaundinya, Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista,
Jamadagni, Gautam, Vishwamitra
From ten great rishis came our gothra.
Ten great rishis came our gothra.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We're everywhere . . . we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis,
Proud to be a Konkani.

Konkani bhass ullaythathi,
Ani parbo sakad ammi kartathi.
Vardik, moonji, chudi, chavathi,
Amgele uloche bhaasa . . . Konkani.
Uloche bhassa . . . Konkani.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We're everywhere . . . we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis,
Proud to be a Konkani.

Ammi mustha randap karthathi,
Ani mannayeri baisun sama jevthathi.
Jibbe ruchi amka masthi,
Thaje katheeri jeevu ammi . . . sodthathi.
Thaje katheeri jeevu ammi . . . sodthathi.

Proud to eat . . .phodi, talasani,
Bendi . . . patholi, surnoli,
upkari ani tamboli.
Proud to eat any one of these.

Proud to be. . . Shenai, Hattandgadi,
Kamathi, Nagarkatti,
Kini, Nayampally.
Proud to be a Konkani.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We're everywhere . . . we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis,
Proud to be a Konkani.

Proud to be a Konkani.
We'll never die; we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis.
We'll never die; we Konkanis.

PROUD TO BE A KONKANI!

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bindops@culture.konkani.com

Courtesy Culture.konkani.com