The Konkani Language has not still recieved its proper status even after 18 years after being declared a state. Still te Goans (Marathi minded or MGP-minded) think that Marathi is their language, this is really foolish, if so, then the Goans shold also try to learn Kannada, Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam etc ... as these are also the languages of the different sates and it is not wrong to just hate a language because it is not viable to read and write.
Since now-a-days most of the shops in Goa are owned or run by South-Indians who prefer to write the names of their shops in their language because they really have pride for their language and English for the sake of Goans since they don't know what actually Goans read and write. So, this is a very sorry state of the Konkani language as still now the Official Language Act is not implemented which is a real shame on all the previous MGP, Congress, UGDO and BJP governments. Since if a government cannot implement the Official language Act properly then how do we expect that any work will be made on the basis of language which is still seen in Goa as Marathi in case of Hindus, Roman Konkani in case of Catholics, Kannada in case of ghatis of the Monte Hill of Margao (this refers to Digamber Kamat's vote bank), so when will Konkani be used which is the only official language of Goa. If the Official Language Act is implemented than all the shop-keepers all over the state wil have to compulsorily write the names in Konkani first and then English if required. Since in our place Karwar where Konkani and Marathi co-exist now-a-days all the shops have to compulsorily write their name in Kannada and English bot other than these languages nothing is written, so why can't Goa follow the same procedure. So, I being from Karnataka expect that the susegad Goans will wake up from their long 18 years sleep (especially Goa Hit Rakhan Manch) and force the government (once it is formed) to implement the Official Language Act. Comments: Dear Mr. Vernekar, I commend you for your thoughts and your advice to us Goans. Yes, the hope is always there that when a new government is formed in Goa, it will at least wipe off the dust which is settled on the Official Language Act of Goa. But unfortunately, we happen to vote in governments whose chief ministers are the ones who will sprinkle more dust on this Act as well as on Konkani. Take for instance Manohar Parrikar. Though Konkani is his mother tongue, his majority voters are marathi lovers. Naturally he will go for the vote bank rather than his language. Take Pratapsing Raoji Rane who is now the new Chief Minister and was the Chief Minister who installed the Language Act. He is himself a Maratha and love Marathi. He will not raise a finger to do anything for Konkani. Many people consider him a worst traitor unto Konkani. And all the others who elect him as Chief Minister have salt where there should be love for one's mother tongue. So how can Konkani come up? Besides our Goan parents want their kids to study in only English so they can make it big in the Western countries. What can Konkani give?? Never mind if it is the mother's tongue. Let the mother use it in the kitchen. Konkani language will never surface if the existing political parties take their turn to rule Goa in the next hundred years or more. The story is the same. However I shall like to bring to your kind attention that the newly formed Goa Su-Raj Party has this to say in its 'Road Map' which will be its committment to Goa and Goans and which is to be released shortly. Thanking you for your concern, being a Kannadiga notwithstanding. Floriano Lobo goasuraj OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Konkani shall be the sole Official Language of Goa. Official correspondence shall be in Konkani (Romi & Nagri), Hindi & English. The Party will keep an open mind on standardization of the script for Konkani and encourage a proper debate on the subject and strive to exclude emotions in place of pragmatism. Maximum Governmental funding will be assured for the development of Konkani through audio-visual, print, cultural and other mediums. As far as Marathi language is concerned, it has the backing of a large State such as Maharashtra where, though there is a sizable population of Konkani speakers in that State, no recognition has been forthcoming, unlike in the State of Karnataka. This Party proposes that, in case the Marathi protagonists in Goa are in a position to obtain in Maharashtra for the Konkani speaking people the same rights that they want in Goa for Marathi speaking people, this party will fully back their efforts for equal status for Marathi in Goa.
