The short session of the Goa Legislative Assembly concluded last week did not witness the introduction of the Goa Daman & Diu Official Language Act 1987 amendment bill to grant recognition Roman script.
The reasons were obvious. INC was waiting for the nod from the High Command the NCP could not raise it because both elected members in the coalition government are Ministers. The BJP was not keen to take it up in this short budget as told to this writer by Mr Francisco D"Souza BJP MLA Mapusa as they wanted to have morchas dharnas outside the house to consolidate the vote bank by highlighting the shortcomings of the coalition government. Another reason was that this session was not the appropriate time according to most MLA's as it was intended only as an overdue excercise to meet the Constitutional requirement that the House meets within six months (the last time they did that was ending 31st August, 2005). The next session is convened on 20th March 2006 onwards to pass the mandatory vote of Account which means the Government could also be toppled if the same is not passed hence they MLAs and political parties feel that this will be time appropriate Meanwhile a delegation including this writer is seeking the intervention of Congress President and UPA Chairman Ms Sonia Gandhi (High Command) during her two day visit to the State beginning tommorrow to direct the Party in Goa and the coalition partners to take up the issue of amendment to the Goa Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987. There is another school of thought emanating from ex MLAs and potential contestants of all political parties to make this amendment an "election agenda" when midterm polls are expected in Goa and to include it in their manifestos with MOPA and what have you. These are emotive issues and can turn the tide against those that oppose especially in the Velhas Conquistas Coastal Talukas of Goa. With all this the Indian National Congress will be the only party who could gain from introducing the same much before the battle lines are drawn for the next elections expected by May 2006 (though due on May 2007 ) and in any case before December, 2006 end. Such being the situation the protogonists of Konkani in Roman script are not leaving any stone unturned. Following the successful rally on 10th February, 2006 at Panaji and the assurance of Dr Wilfred De Souza,Dy CM and MLA Saligao Mr Churchill Alemao MP Lok Sabha Mormugao Parliamentary Constituency Mr Radharao Gracias ex MLA Loutolim Mr Victor Gonsalves ex MLA Santa Cruz Ms Farrel Furtado ex MLA Velim to make amends and do justice to Goans this is a clear feather in the cap for the agitationists. In the days to come the momentum is being built and the ONLY ONE SCRIPT (DEVANAGARI) are feeling the heat. Another feather in the cap for Romi lovers came when Dr Wilfred A De Souza Deputy CM and NCP MLA Saligao skipped the much touted All (India) Konknni Parishad by not attending the same at Kala Academy on the 10th February, 2006 but only attended the Romi lipi (script) rally --- it sent a message to the Devanagaris that they ought to fall in line with those for diversity in script now. As another boost the now INC MLA Margao and Minister for Art & Culture Mr Digamber Kamat has already promised to consider the naming of the Ravindra Bhavan auditorium at Fatorda in the name of a dramatist and playwright of yester years late Mr Joao Agostinho Fernandes "Pai Tiatrist" (21.12.1871 to 29.08.1947) and Founder of Concani Stage in Bombay 1892 --- a resident of H No: 306 Modsai Behind Holy Spirit Church Margao Goa now in Fatorda Assembly Constituency South Goa Parliamentary Constituency. Yet another achievement is that the Minister for Education and MLA Navelim Mr Luisinho Faleiro fearing that he may be alienated by the Romi lovers has given a premise at the Government Polytechnic for the use of the Dalgado Konknni Academy at Altinho Panaji today. Incidentally DKA under the stewardship of eminent tiatrist Mr Wilson Mazarelo and other members like Tomazinho Cardozo, Fr Pratap Naik sj TSKK are presently spearheading the movement for grant of official recognition to Konkani in Roman script. Again for the first time both Minister for Art and Culture Mr Digamber Kamat and Minister for Education Mr Luizinho Faleiro promised Rs one lac each for hosting the Mando Festival publicly at the 39th Mando Festival at Porvorim (if the same is held in Margao) or out of Goa to promote out Goan culture. (Incidentally only Rs 25,000 of the promised Rs 1 lac have been released to the Goa Cultural and Social Centre Panaji which organised the event according to one of senior members of the Mando festival organisors ) A signature campaign introduced in Mumbai by the Archdiocese is in full swing while yet another is spearheaded by an eminent activist Mr M K Jos. Incidentally he handed over the first set of over 45,000 signatures to the President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam during his recent visit to Goa in October, 2005 drawing his attention to the need to recognise Romi script under ther relevant article of the Constitution of India. For the benefit of NRIs there is an online " PETITION ONLINE " signature campaign initiated last week and the numbers are rising steadily at last count. This clearly shows that atleast for the time being after 19 years the movement is gaining ground but short of introducing the amendment to the Official Language Act 1987 which all Goans will demand at any cost the pro devanagari only protoganists have become sensitive to the demands of Romis. GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584 __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com