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DALGADO KONKNNI AKADEMI - Pratap Naik, S.J. Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) was established in 1988. This Akademi is named after Mgr. Sebastião Dalgado, for his various contributions to enrich Konknni Language. Mgr. Sebastião Dalgado was a scholar of Konknni as well as many other languages. Dalgado was born in Asagao, a village in Bardes, on May 8, 1855. Mgr. Dalgado devoted himself to the study of Konknni in scientific and systematic manner. He was the first person in Goa to use Devanagari script for Konknni and to print the first Konknni book in it. He compiled two dictionaries Konknni-Portuguese and Portuguese-Konknni; Konknni was then written as well as spoken in various dialects. Mgr. Dalgado found his own Bardeshi dialect the most suitable to standardize Konknni. Mgr. Dalgado's aim was to show that Konknni was a full-fledged independent language. Considering the various contributions Mgr. Dalgado made to Konknni language, Dalgado Konknni Akademi was established so that the Konknni writers of Roman script may bring out standard literature and to initiate activities in its various fields. The first and foremost objective of DKA is to promote Konknni language in Roman script, which is neglected, side tracked and given step motherly treatment for two decades in official fields. Konknni written in Roman script goes back to 1560. Without its Roman script history, Konknni would not have got the recognition by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi in 1975. It has the rich cultural heritage and it has become integral and unavoidable part of Goan culture, specifically of Christians. The vast majority of Goan Christians read Konknni written in Roman script. Hence it has to be preserved fostered and developed. DKA has taken upon itself this as its mission. DKA will unite those Goans who are reading and writing Konknni in Roman script. It will work untiringly to obtain for them their just and lawful demands, dues and rights. DKA recognizes those institutions which are working for the promotion and development of Konknni Language, literature and culture in Roman script. It has initiated various activities in literary, cultural and social fields. It will provide financial assistance, and scholarships to writers, dramatists, talented important people, scholars and students to carry out research and other undertakings in the field of Konknni. The other objectives are: Holding and organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, lectures, competitions of different types; undertaking and editing Konknni folk songs, music, folk literature, stage performances and other expressions of Konknni culture; Library and documentation centre facilities to the students, writers, teachers, producers and actors/actresses of Konknni; collecting and preserving Konknni documents, records, books and objects scattered with individuals and families which are related to the cultural and literary development of Konknni. Goa's Konknni community is divided into two groups, namely those who read and write Konknni in Devanagari script, and those who read and write Konknni in Roman script. Therefore, DKA has a number of demands: Goa Government should give equal and official status to Konknni written in Devanagari and Roman scripts. For this the Govt. should modify the Language Act accordingly. The present Language Act,1987 2. (c) reads "Konknni language" means Konknni language in Devanagari script. DKA proposes the following amendment to 2. (c): "Konknni language" means Konknni language in Devanagari and Roman scripts. Goa Government recognizes Marathi Akademi as the official Akademi for Marathi in Goa and gives grants through the Directorate of Official Language. In the same way, Goa Government must recognize Dalgado Konknni Akademi as the official NGO of Konknni in Roman script, and give the same amount of grants directly to DKA. So far, Goa Govt. has not appointed the president of GKA from the Roman script group. Hence this time Govt. must appoint the president of GKA from the Roman script group. In the future, Govt. could appoint the president by turns from Devanagari script and Roman script promoters alternatively. GKA is a Govt. institution. At present a nominee of the All India Konknni Parishad is the ex-officio member of GKA. GKA Constitution must be amended to include a nominee of Dalgado Konknni Akademi as the ex-officio member of GKA. Goa Govt. appoints three persons eminent in the field of Konknni language, literature or culture as ex-officio members of GKA. While nominating these three persons Govt. should give equal representation to Devanagari and Roman script. In the past Kala Akademi (KA) used to give annual prizes for books published in Devanagari and Roman scripts. For the last many years it has stopped giving awards to books written in Roman script. KA should be ordered to give awards to Roman script Konknni writers, and extend to them all other projects and schemes which are available to Konknni in Devanagari script. Kala Akademi gives Gomantak Sharada Puroskar to Konknni writers in Devanagari script and Marathi writers. In future KA must consider and give this prestigious award to Roman script writers and artists as well. Kala Akademi is established to promote the culture of Goa. Hence it should be asked to hold competitions and to promote non-stop Konknni drama, one-act plays in Konknni in Roman script, Mandos, Dekhnnis, Christmas carols, Church hymns, Motets, Intruz khells, Kantaram, Kunbi songs and dances, and other folk arts. Govt. must name its new theatre for the performing arts in Margão, in honour of Late Joao Agostinho Fernandes, who is popularly known as "Pai Tiatrist". By doing this Govt. will honour a great Goan tiatrist and his minority community. Goa govt. has the Advisory Board for Directorate of Official Language. In this advisory Board the govt. must give equal representation to Konknni in Roman and Devanagari scripts and Marathi. Tiatr is the most popular form of theatre in Goa. To promote this local art form, Goa Govt. should make available its theatres in Panaji, Ponda, Margao and elsewhere at subsidized rates for tiatrs. This generous gesture of the Govt. will boost the tiatr industry. Goa Konknni Akdemi, Kala Akademi, Directorate of Art and Culture, and other Govt. departments while publishing Konknni books, should publish them in both Devanagari script and Roman script. Konknni has two representatives in Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. Goa Govt. sends three names to Sahitya Akademi as its nominees. Let the Goa Govt. send names of both Devanagari writers and Roman script writers. To promote Konknni films the Govt. must establish a separate board of films consisting of writers, artists and experts in filmmaking. This board too must have equal representation of Roman script experts as demanded in all other cases Devanagari and Roman scripts could be compared to two wheels of a cart. Both the wheels are equal, important and necessary. Konknni in Devanagari script is highly Marathicized and Sanskritized. To neutralize this non-Konknni influence and to maintain its Konknni identity, Konknni in Roman script is essential. Konknni will loose its Konknni-ness without Bardeshi Konknni dialect written in Roman script. The history of written Konknni began with Franciscan and Jesuit scholars who began writing Konknni in the Roman script in the 16th century. It was developed and nurtured by Roman script writers. It is only after the Liberation of Goa the proponents of Devanagari script with the support of some from the minority community gained the upper hand in the field of Konknni and reap all the benefits. These tried to suppress Konknni in Roman script under the guise of promoting patriotism or nationalism. This has created a sort of fear and inferiority complex among the community using the Roman script. Now that this community is enlightened and emboldened by DKA and other organizations, is asserting itself. Therefore, DKA demands justice to Roman script and not mere charity or alms. DKA will not accept anything less than equal status to Konknni in Roman script in the Official Language Act. -- "Dev Borem Korum". Gabe Menezes. London, England
