Dears, There has been some confusion in the minds of many on the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Goa in the ongoing movement to promote the use, and acceptance, of Konkani in Roman Script all over Goa. A large part of this confusion is intentionally generated to creat a rift among those who read and write in Roman script, the script in which we write English and communicate on the net. Reproduced below is an extract of an interview with Mr. Tomazinho Cardoz, Immediate Past President of the Dalgado Konkani Akademi, former Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, one of the leaders of the Konkani Porjecho Avaz and the Consulting Editor of GOENCHO ULO [read world wide on the Net www.fullerlife.com ; www.goanet.org; www.goaworld.com/goa/ ; www.goacom.com /konkani and as tabloid hardcopies circulated free in Goa] with reference to the rally of DKA on 10 February, 2006 at the Azad maidan, Panaji-Goa : ................................. "Bismachea Ghorantlean igorzanchea Padr Vigarank, amche zomaticho 'announcement' korina zavpak, sondesh gelo ani taka lagon Arsebism ani Katolk Igorj Romi lipicher add asa oso Kristanv somaza modhem mud'dom goirsomoz utpon' kelo, itlem ason porian ek hozara vhoir lok he zoimatik hajir zalo, 10/15 padri ailet, ani machier vhoir eun padrinim uktteponnim bhaxonnam korun Romi lipiek adhar bhasailo, hench amchem vhoddantlem vhodd zoit asa'", oxem Konknni chollvollintlo mukheli ani DKA-cho adlo odheokx Tomazinho Cardoz-an sanglem. "Zo poriant amchea igorzamnim Romi lipi vapuddtole to porian konnenuch Arsebism ani Goenchi Katolk Igroz Romi lipiek tenko dina mhunnop, hem sarkem chukichem asa" tannem fuddem sanglem.
"Hanv DKA-cho od'dheokx aslo ten'na, jitle-i pavtti ami Arsebisma thaim zomati keleat, title-i pavtti Konknni vixinchi amchi oddchonn tannem somzun ghetlea ani Romi lipik sogllo adhar bhasaila." Sunaporant (Konknni disalleant) Bism Romi lipiek tenko dina hi mukhel khobor vachun mhaka dhok'ko boslo oxe udgar kaddun Xri. Cardozo-n fuddem sanglem, ' Porje bhitor Romi lipi vixim guspaghonddoll korpachi ti tozvit zaun asa ti ken'nanch iexesvit zanvchina. Bisman DKA khatir kocheri divpak bhas dileli, punn durusteche gorjek lagun tem fattim poddlem," oxeim Xri. Cardozo-n sanglem. "Katolkank Konknnik lagun martirponn bhogchem poddlem. Anik thoddeach disamni uzvadda ievpi Konknnintlo Pornno Korar legit, oglle unnem 70 lak rupia korchun, Romi lipientlean porgott zata ti ekdom khoxechi khobor asa. Kristi dhormant Goeant Romi lipi kitli mhotvachi tem amche dhormik fuddarich amkam dakoll korta, tem sid'dh zata," Shri. Cardozo-n akhrek sanglem. ................................................. In brief, the above statement talks about the message from the Archbishop's residence [ NOT from the Archbishop himself but, according to some sources, by a priest working there.] to the Parish Priests not to read a notice sent by the DKA for the courtesy of announcement. [Such notices from institutions and clubs are routinely read in churches for information]. Inspite of the confusion more than a thousand people gathered at Azad Maidan [The first rally of KPA had only 32 persons].Catholic priests not only attended the rally but also addreeed from the stage erected at the venue. This was the victory, said Tomazinho. " As long as Konkani in the Roman script is used in our churches, till then it is absolutely wrong to state that the Archbishop and the Catholic Church in Goa does not support Roman script for Konkani" said Tomazinho Cardoz. "The good news is that in a short time from now, the Old Testament of the Bible will be published in Roman script with an expenditure of about Rs.70 lakhs." Need anything be said about the importance of the Roman script for Konkani in our religious interaction? .......................... The issue is clear. The confusion needs to be cleared from the minds of those who are confused by the conflicting signals coming from the lower echelons of the clergy at Paco Patriarchal, Altinho, Panaji. Unauthorised use of the Archbishop's office is abuse of the trust that the laity reposes in the clergy. The Rachol Seminay teacher who took the oath for "one language, one script, one community" at a public forum on 12 February, 2006, needs to explain whether he speaks for himself or pretends to speak for the church or the Roman Catholic community....in Devanagri. Fortunately, he did not wear his cassock for the event. Viva Goa. Miguel
