Saraswat Brahmins in Goa had reason to discreetly gloat and rejoice over the
award of the second highest civilian award "Padma Vibhushan" to the
octogenarian Dr Ravindra Kelecar a Saraswat Brahmin Konkani litterateur a
native of Priol Ponda Taluka Novas Conquistas a staunch protagonist of one
Language One script (devanagari)
But for the over fifty lac Konkani speaking people spread all over the world
who staunchly believe in "One language and diverse scripts" ( be it Romi,
Kannada, Malayalam and Devanagari ) Chief Adjudicator Keith Pullin of Guinness
World Records who is at the venue "Kalaangann" in down town Shaktinagar,
Mangalore City in the South Indian State of Karnataka Konkani will in a few
moments from now (by 2200hrs ) ink down on the certificate and incorporate
thereon tbe new record an achievement of --- "Konkani Nirantari" 40 hrs of non
stop singing marathon of Konkani musical choirs in the Guinness World
Records. An all Hindu Goan troupe headed by P Chari ("Chari" stands for
vocations like tin smiths/carpenters and formed one of the traditional members
of the erstwhile Gaunkaries )and "Kepemchim Kirnnam" an all Catholic Goan
troupe too participated in the marathon as per reports just received.
The Marathon singing in Konkani which began on India's 59th Republic Day at
0600 hrs IST will end shortly from now at 2200 hrs Sunday, 27th January, 2008.
The "Mandd Sobhann" organisation of Eric Ozario of Mangalore will thus earn
full honours for this tremendous achievement in organising this feat which
features around 1500 singers in the age group of 16 years and above with a
total of nearly 44 Groups with a minimum of 30 members per group and nearly 600
songs to be sung in the 40 hour singing marathon.
Nearing the new 40 hour Konkani singing marathon record it has just broken at
18hrs today the the 36 hours record which stands in the name of "Communidade
Evangelica Luterana Sao Paulo, Ulbra Brazil" founded in 1905 and was set on 4th
July 2004. Incidentally as per reports received from the venue the troupe which
was singing when this record was broken was from Mumbai and the song was
dedicated to Mother Theresa.
It may be recalled that this writer had organised a public performance of the
"Mandd Sobhann" musical Group of Konkani songs on the historic Lohia Maidan at
Margao for the first time in Goa in the early eighties with Eric Ozario and
troupe and late Chafra D Costa and it was then a pleasant experience for the
people of Goa ----who otherwise take pride of being called a Konkani speaking
state ----to note that it could not outwit the enthusiasm grit and
determination of the people of Mangalore in Karnataka to promote our mother
tongue and bring it to the great heights it has achieved today.
Ofcourse it is the protoganists of Konkani in Devanagari the likes of Uday L
Bhembre, Chandrakant Keni, Ravindra Kelekar, Damodar Mauzo, etc etc that have
proved to be clogs in the efforts to allow Konkani in Goa and other States to
flourish giving due respect to diverse scripts.
It must however be said to the credit of our playwrights both in Mumbai and Goa
who have kept the flame of Konkani glowing and ofcourse the Jesuits who have
rendered yeomen service to the language and continue to do so till date
notwithstanding the one sided view of the Devanagari lobby.
Incidentally it must be remembered that when ex-MP and present PWD Minister
first spoke in Parliament in Konkani it was the people from Mangalore that
complimented him ironically the Goans were busy ridiculing him for the words
he uttered in the House ignorant or perhaps oblivious of the fact that this was
indeed the turning point in the history of one of the most persecuted regional
language both by the Marathi lobby which treated is as dialect of Marathi and
the Nagri script writers of Konkani the Saraswat lobby who denegrate the Roman
script Konkani.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
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