I just bought a Konkani(Devnagri script) to English dictionary today. It is titled, 'RAJHAUNS New Generation Konkani-English Illustrated Dictionary' authored by Suresh J Borkar, Mukesh P Thali and Damodar K Ghanekar. I has a very interesting introduction which I thought I would forward on to Goaneters. The authors make an excellent case for the Administration and Education in Goa to be conducted solely in Konkani while recognizing the need to master English as a language of business and technology worldwide. The introduction appears in English and Konkani (Devnagri script). I have typed up the introduction in English and attempted to re-write the Konkani introduction in Romi script for those Goans not familiar with the Devnagri script.
Jaime. INTRODUCTION The liberation of Goa brought a message to Goans: they should run their own affairs. Under the Portuguese rule they were habituated to live a life supported by others. They never felt that they could and should evolve ways of their own destiny. Liberation, however, has created, though slowly, a sense of self-esteem and made them realize that they too, like others elsewhere in India, could become masters of their own destiny. Though small, Goa today has become a full-fledged sate in its own right, like any other state in the Union. For the first time in known history Goa is being governed by Goans. Yet, due to centuries of slavish mentality they are yet to reconcile to the fact that they can administer their land in their own language. No proud people will ever allow its land to be administered in a foreign language. Yet, to our dismay, we see the slavish mentality has not yet left their psyche. Nevertheless, we have a vision as so many in the past had, that Goans will take pride in being Goans and administer their land in Konkani. They vicissitudes through which Goa has passed since 1961 with such landmark events as the Opinion Poll (1967), Official Language and Statehood (1987) and inclusion of Konkani in the VIII schedule of the Indian Constitution (1992) make us believe that the day is not too far. When the administration runs in one's language, collateral fields including education will have to run in the same language. However, no state or nation, big or small, can ignore the learning of English. It is in English that we see today mind-boggling development in the fields of science and technology. It will be suicidal not to master this language. Yet, this fact should not cloud our vision. No matter how strong and wide the influence of English is over the world today, there is one area where we must not make any compromise. That area is our administration. It has to run in Konkani, and under no circumstances English should be allowed to have any say in it. Once this goal is set for ourselves and we are realistic about the importance of English in our life, we will have to make provision for its acquisition. It is here that we will have to take recourse to several books including dictionaries. Konkani-English dictionary of this nature will play its own specific role. Though this is the role that such dictionaries play elsewhere in the world where states and nations run their governments though their own languages, in Goa due to the abnormality in which we live, we see today large section of people, though learning through English, struggle to acquire it. We are sure this dictionary will definitely help them in the process. It had been weighing on our minds for quite some time to compile the present dictionary. However, due to various personal difficulties we could not take up the work in the right zeal. We are happy that we could do the job now. It will be a consolation for us if the users of this dictionary are able to benefit from our work. S J Borkar, M P Thali, D K Ghanekar ------------------------ NIVEDHAN Goem mekllem zaipasun goemkaramcher ek motthi zapsaldarki ieun poddli. Hea adim Purtuguezamchea shekatlla astana, udorgotichea vegllea-vegllea mollacher apnnem anik khas kitem korunk zai oshem goekarank disonaslem. Atam goemkar goemche rajyakorte zaleat. Hindustanant zoshim zaitim ghottok rajyam assat, toshech Goem hem ek titleach adhikaramchem supurlem ghottok rajya zallam. Pillgeam Pillgeamni dusreamchea poshan udok pievpachi sovoim zal'lea Goemkarank aplem rajya apleachean korunk ieta ho somoz ievpak boroch kallav laglo. Teach borobor zaito kall ho somoz angant rigpakhatir gelo. Aiz amchem rajya amcheamni korunk ieta hi bhavna goemkaramchea angant bollil'li assa. Tori punn aplem rajya apnne korpak ho vichar puraiponnant goemkaramni apnnanvk nam. Khoimchoch purusharthi, svabhimani rajyakorto aplem rajya dusreamchea bhashantleant korchonam. To aplech bhashentlean tem rajya choloitolo. Osso purusharth, osso svabhiman aiz zori dislona, ani rajya Inglish bhashentlean chalovpak ami amchi motthi vhoddvik somzotat asle, tori ek dis tem konknnintlean choltelem ani ho dis khub pois nam osso amkam visvas assa. Konknnintlean goemchem rajya cholovpacho vichar kortanam eke gozalichem bhan dovorchem poddlem. Tem mhollear, rajya amche bhaxent cholovpachem aslem tori aiz sonvsarant khoimchench rajya vo rashttra ekmullem jieunk pavona. Sonvsarant atam vidnyan ani tantranyan hanchea mollar ji akantamchi vhadd zata ticheborobor ravtolo zalear Inglish bhas bore bhaxen amkam shikun ghenvchi poddli. Inglishiche amoriad sat'tek lagun amcher ek kheriz zabsaldarki ieta. Ti mhollear, khoichech poristhitint amche bhaxechi survat Inglish bhaxek diunk favona. Ti survat mhollear rajkarbar; to konkknint ani konknnintuch zavunk zai. Goemchem rajya goemkaranim konknnint cholounk zai oshem jen'na ami mhonttat ten'na her sogllim mollam, chodd korun shikxonn, konknnintuch cholchim poddttoli oshem mud'dam sangpachem goroz disona. Oshem shikxhan cholonam Inglishintui ami parongot zavunk zai mhonnpachem bhan ami rakhchem poddttolem. Konknni-Inglish shobdkoshachi goroz oshea vellar chodd korun lagtoli. Ho vavr kaim vorsampasun korcho oshem amkam distalem. Punn veglleam-veglleam karonnak lagun to ghoddunk pavlonam. Ho vavr atam amchekoddlean ghoddtta. Amkam amchi shim khobor assa. Te shiment ravun ami ho vavr kela. Gorjevontachi goroz ho kosh bhagonvk pavlo zalear amchea vavrachem sarthak zalem oshem distolem. S J Borkar, M P Thali, D K Ghanekar ________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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