DALGADO KONKNNI AKADEMI
Panjim, Goa.
Phone: 9822170102 / 2489019 / 2489213
PRESS RELEASE
Panjim: 20.07.05
Literary and cultural institutions working for the promotion of Konkani in
Roman script, in a meeting held recently at Pilar, Goa, unanimously resolved
to fight for the right of Konkani in Roman script under the umbrella of
Dalgado Konknni Akademi. The representatives expressed their disappointment
the way the Government promoted Konkani in Goa through Goa Konknni Akademi by
totally neglecting the development of Konkani in Roman scripts during last 18
years.
The representatives participating in the discussion narrated their experiences
of giving step-motherly treatment to Konkani in Roman scripts. Not even 5% of
the budget has been used for the publication of Konkani literature in Roman
script. Kala Akademy of Goa stopped giving literary awards to Konkani
literature in Roman script as per the advice of the literary committee of the
Kala Akademi which consists of leaders of Konkani movement. Goa Konknni
Akademi includes only one Tiatr in the annual Drama festival as against 5
Konkani dramas. No facilities of travel grants are given to writers of Konkani
in Roman script. Promotion of Mando, dulpods and other Goan folk dances is not
financed by any Government institution. Konkani literature in Roman script is
branded as having no standard by self interested Konkani leaders even without
reading a single book in Konkani in Roman script. No study of the literature
of Konkani in Roman script since 16th century is done by any institutions,
public or private, as their study of Konkani literature begins only in the
20th century. The leaders of Konkani have temporarily succeeded in
manipulating the Sahitia Akademi, New Delhi as far as the script of Konkani is
concerned only because the Advisory Committee does not include enough
representatives of Roman script writers for the last almost 30 years. The
composition of the Boards of Kala Akademi and Goa Konkani Akademi is totally
unfair as far as representation of Konkani in Roman script is considered. It
was also noted that these institutions were never headed by representatives of
Roman script writers since their inception.
After analising the factual position of the treatment given to Konkani in
Roman script, the institutions working for the promotion of Konkani in Roman
script have unanimously demanded the following:-
(1) Government should direct Goa Konkani Akademi to use 50% of the budget
for the promotion of Konkani in Roman Script.
(2) Kala Akademy should immediately consider Konkani books in Roman script
for literary awards and provide all other facilities to writers in Roman
script.
(3) Goa Konkani Akademy should include Nattoks and Tiatrs in equal number
in their annual festival.
(4) Due representation to Konkani writers in Roman script should be given
in the statuary bodies of Goa Konkani Akademi, Kala Akademi and Sahitia
Akademi by the Government.
(5) Persons representing promoters of Konkani in Roman script should be
appointed to head Goa Konkani Akademy and Kala Akademi
It was also decided to organize a meeting of all the institutions working for
the promotion of Konkani in Roman script in Margao in the month of August 2005.
Tomazinho Cardozo
President,
Dalagado Konknni Akademi
