The Thomas Stephen Konknni Kendr -------a registered Konknni research centre run by Jesuits at Porvorim Bardez Goa and named after a British Jesuit priest Fr Thomas Stephen a renowned linguist and Marathi poet who produced the first grammar of any Indian language(1549 to 1619) founded in March 1982 -------held today 4th February, 1987,------- a brief function at 1712 hrs at the Church of Our Lady of Grace, Margao (the 20th anniversary of the recognition of Konknni as the official language of Goa,) to present the first Konknni Martir Floriano Vaz Puroskar to its recepeint Mr Ashok Chodankar for his collection of poems Jivit Fulum di somestanchem
It was indeed a sort of a grim reminder for the motely gathering of Konknni stalwarts tiatrists (playwrights) writers etc which included the family members of late Floriano, viz his sister Conceicao, Fatima and brothers Remedio (Antonio not present) that the body of young Floriano -- Goas first martyr for Konknni, ----besides the six others who died at Neura hailing from the village of Agacaim---would turn in the grave --- as Konknni mai 20 years later has yet not achieved what it ought to --- viz a language which could be driven like the wheels of a bullock cart with official recognition to Devanagiri and Roman scripts. Fr Pratap Naik Director speaking on the occasion, expressed deep concern that the young Floriano Vaz did not get the recognition he deserved for his supreme sacrifice merely because he came from humble beginnings and downtrodden section of the society. The conditions under which the family lives today is grim reminder of the fate of Goas first martyr. He explained the objectives of the TSKK (browse www.tskk.org) . He also stated that this years award winner of the first KM Floriano Vaz Puroskarwas awarded after a panel of two priests and a professor selected from among the three copies each presented by 11 writers and others. One was a book on some technical writing another on cookery, another on cartoons and finally the book a collection of a poems Jivit fulumdi somestanchem written by Mr Ashok Chodankar in devanagari and roman script was selected for the award which consists of Rs 5000/-and a momento presented by Mr Anton Gaonkar. Books sent is by past awardees of Fr Antonio Pereira S.J (founding member of TSKK--an award consisting of a shawl memento and cheque for Rs.25,000/- instituted on his 70th birthday to honour since 1991 those that have done at least 15 years of sustained work in the service of Konknni in Goa ) were not considered to allow others to have a fair opportunity to qualify for the awards. Prince Jacob incidentally who earned the title Prince given by Fr Antonio for his unique talent of mesmerizing the audiences with his fine performance on the Konknni stage reminded the audience that the people of Calangute showed the way by erecting a statue of the Father of the Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira, similarly since no justice has been shown to Goas first martyr for Konknni it is the people that will come forward do justice to the young soul He said further that it was indeed a great effort of the TSKK and a fine gesture that a non Catholic qualified for this award. Now that Mr Chodankar has received the award which is indeed is the owing to the blood of Mr Vaz it would be incumbent upon him to fight for justice. Goans he reminded the audience are not opposed to Devanagiri ; he only wondered why one was against Romi? Convenor of the Romi Lipi Action Front Mr Wilmix Mazarelo reiterated the demand for a statue of Mr Vaz to be erected in Margao for future generations to note his contribution to Konknni. Ms Prita Naik read two interesting poems from the book of Mr Chodankar which plainly revealed an interesting facet of an Goan who moves outside the country is treated as a human being without any barriers of caste religion and creed but while in India the division surfaces in every stream of our lives---The other emphasizing that Goans start dividing themselves killing themselves today what will be left if our unity is gone? This was appreciated by the audience by a thunderous applause. Mr Tomazinho Cardozo spoke about an youngster who had come out with a book on Konkanni cartoons and this he felt should deserve the support of all. He also had a word of praise for late Dr Manoharrai Sardessai who inspired him to write.. He bemoaned the fact of how eminent Goans ---Catholics like Jerry Braganza, who had rendered yeomen service to Goan society were Forgotten Heroes just because their were not from the prominent Pratishtit families. Ulhas Buyao --- in an emotional outburst felt deeply that 20 years later there no justice to an young lad who became a martyr following a cold blooded firing which took away his life. He said Konknni was always written in Roman script, it is his community members Bammani that imported a Shennoi from Mumbai (then Bombay ) and floated the devanagari script. Replying to the contention of some that late Purushottam Kakodkar should also deserve to be called the Father of Opinion Poll he citied a joke of yester years when in front of the Communidade Bldg the small assembly of people some of whom are still living and one present in the audience were ready to hold a condolence meet for Mr Kakodkar presuming he was dead when actually he had in the heat of the Opinion Poll gone to Rishikesh North India. He was clear in his thinking that only two persons need consideration Dr Jack de Sequeira and Floriano Vaz. Chief Guest of the function Mr Anton Gaonkar an ex MLA put in a note of dissent . He felt that the function could have been held in the open for the masses to know the sacrifice made by members of his community. He stated that it was the scheduled tribes of Goa that provided the force for any agitation be it the Opinion Poll, the Language agitation etc but they were never rewarded. Instead they have always been relegate to the end of the developmental or economically empowered segment. He expressed fear that the new census to be conducted on 15 February, 2007 would show that migrant labour versus STs would reveal that they have risen to 55% while the STs have remained around 45 %. He was sad that Mr Vaz is now being remembered after 20 years but nothing has been done to his family. He was ashamed that while the Goa Konknni Academy spends around Rs.70 to 80 lacs annually nothing was given to family of Mr Vaz till date. He assured the audience that the people will now erect a statue of Mr Vaz at prominent place in Margao and application for acquiring a one by one metre space for the same has been moved and there is a favourable response from the Margao Municipal Council. He also wondered why Goans have to fight for every issue even after Liberation. He wondered too what sin have Goans committed that they have always to fight, can our elected representatives not accord to us what is due? He said that had it not been for the Opinion Poll there would never have been 28 seats and now 40 seats in the Goa Assembly but just two seats if we were merged with Maharashtra. Mr Ashok Rghuvir Chodankar (20/7/1949) the awardee, B.Sc Hons graduate from Chowgule College did his Diploma in Administrative Management from University of Bomby . After working as Chemist at Curti Chemicals Ponda he joined the Mormugao Dock Labour Board Mormugao as a foot ball player second division league for 10 years. Later he worked for Abudhabi Hotel Co UAE as Income Auditor . He now lives in VascodaGama and is involved in both literary and social work. The function was compered by Mr Salvador Vaz an eminent Konknni writer from Quepem . Sidelights of the meet a) there was no offering of garlands bouquets to the gathering instead the book by Mr Chodankar was given to all those on the dais viz Prince Jacob, Mr Ulhas Buyao Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, Mr Anton Gaonkar, Mr Ashok Chodankar, Mr Wilson Mazarelo Ms Conceicao Vaz. b) Prof. S M Borges the lone Nagri lipi supporter was present; c) No coverage by the audio visual media d) Considering the 20th anniversary of OLA 1987 the audience should have been much more e) Presence of top All India Radio officials was an added boost to the function . f) Ms Conceicao garlanded the portrait of her brother g) It was for the first time in her life that she had the honours of being seated on the dais. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new http://in.answers.yahoo.com/