According to excerpts from a recorded version this
writer received late evening from the "History Hour"
at Xavier Centre of Historical Research Porvorim Mr
Tomazinho Cardozo, ex-MLA, ex-speaker of Goa
Legislative assembly and ex-President of Dalgado
Konknni Akademi read a paper on "Socio-Economic
Growth of the Goan Community through the Konkani
Language". About 80 people were present for the talk.
The paper reading was followed by lively discussion.
The speaker answered all questions which were asked to
him. His adversaries had no arguments to ask counter
questions. The gist of the speaker's main points were
the following:
1. During the Portuguese regime in Goa, Konkani was
not given any
importance. the elite of Goan society used it only to
converse with their servants. They felt ashamed to
make use of it in public. The elite of the Christian
community who used to speak in Portuguese in their
daily life, did not favour Konkani culture except for
the promotion of Mando and Dulpods. While the
entertainment for the poor masses was "tiatr".
2. During the Portuguese regime the church schools,
besides Portuguese and Konkani in Roman script used to
teach music. He was the product of this system.
3. During the KPA movement supporters of Konkani
fought the battle to make Konkani the Official
Language of Goa. At no point of time the script for
the language was discussed. the agitation culminated
in making not Konkani Language the Official Language
of Goa but in making Konkani in Devanagari script the
official language of Goa. this was the greatest fraud
of the 20th
century committed on the Goan Konkani community.
4 The Official Language Act promotes the interest of
very few people while it works against the interest of
majority of Konkani people.
5. The architects of this fraud very well knew that
the followers of Konkani in roman script will never
be able to match them in literary activities.
6. Sahitya Akademi, 8th schedule and Goa Konkani
Akademi constitution does not mention the script of
Konkani. It is only the Goa Official Language Act
which states Konkani language means Konkani in
Devanagari script. Why is this so?
7. In various Konkani committees you find 80% Nagari
supporters. He called these acts as 'manipulations'.
8. It is a fact that today, it is only the schools
managed by the
Christians that promote primary education in Konkani.
He supported this statement with factual data.
9. Konkani in Devanagari script and in a particular
dialect is
forcibly imposed on Christian managed schools.
10. If the use of Marathi in religious field is
considered as a sign of unity among Goan Hindus by the
supporters of Konkani in Nagari script, why not
Konkani in Nagari script and Konkani in Roman script
be a sign of unity of Goan Konkani community?
11. the policy one language, one script, one society
is divisive in natureand hence needs to be discarded.
12. India is standing tall on the world map due to the
concept of
"unity in diversity". Goa cannot be an exception to
this fact. Hence let us respect both scripts of
Konkani and let us treat Konkani in both scripts
equally.
This writer could not attend this meet owing to his
meet alongith some others with the CM on urgent issue
TCP PDA's and the Regional Plan.
>From the Panaji end
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
BORDA MARGAO GOA
__________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions |
| |
| Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages |
| Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
