At a small gathering this evening at Our Lady of Grace
Church Hall Margao Goa the Thomas Stephen Konknni
Kendr presented the Antonio Pereira Konknni
Puroskar to its 16th recepient Mr Ulhas Buyao
affectionately known as Goa Shahir
Konknni sangitachea Vavra Khatir i.e for his
contribution to the Konknni lyrics, music and stage
performance during the past forty years. The Karnataka
Konknni Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario
presented the award wchic consists of a shawl, memento
besides a cheque of Rs. 25,000.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Pratap Naik sj Director of
the TSKK informed the motely audience that the award
is given to any person who has made a contribution to
Konknni irrespective of the script caste creed of the
recipient. The money has been collected from the
public mostly lovers of Konknni in Roman script. It
was late Fr Antonio Pereira who was felicitated on his
75th birthday at the Our Lady of Imaculate conception
school which was attended by a large multitude who
decided on constituting an award for the purpose of
Konkani. The minimum number of years for qualifying
for this award is 15 years .
Mr Ulhas Buyao was born on 21st June 1944 (almost the
same age of Mr Amitabh Bacchann according to the MC Mr
Sabnis) incidentally the day 21st is also the longest
day in a year. Ulhas means light, Mr Buyao after his
primary education in Zambaulim Quepem pursued his
secondary education in Ram Mohan Vidhya Mandir at
Girgaum Mumbai. After that he came to Goa and
excelled in the field of poetry which was his first
love.
Replying to the felicitation Mr Buyao made it clear
that Konkani was the language of all Goans there is no
doubt about that but he was shocked to note how just
2.5% Saraswat Brahmins intended to make it a monopoly
of just one community though 30% of the Goans wrote in
Roman script had highest circulation in Romi lipi. He
said even the Bible
Povitr Pustok was sold before the print publication in
Roman script was out. He mentioned about the idol
worship done by the Saraswats of Varde Valaulikar who
is called as Shenoi Goembab . He asked the
audience specifically Mr Tomazinho Cardozo to make it
public that Valaulikar lived in Assagao Bicholim only
for a short while. He had spent most of his time in
Mumbai in a posh apartment at Vile Parle when all
others Saraswat Brahmins were living in chawls at
Girgaum. How could je afford it is beyond ones
imagination. The title Shenoi was not conferred on
him as is widely made to believe for his contribution
to Konknni but he collected an incident when
Valulikar on his journey to Mumbai by steamer at the
age of eight years was affectionately called by a
fellow commuter as Shenoi Goembab and that title
remained but has nothing to do with his contribution
towards Konkani .
In fact he claimed that Shenoi Goembab is a fake. He
also launched a tirade against the secularist Uday
Laxmikant Bhembre who as a member of the Vichar Manch
of the Congress Party was using unparliamentary
language and giving physical threats using the only
Konkani Devanagari daily Sunaparant to vomit his
vengeance against the pro- Roman script lovers.
He bluntly castigated those present among the audience
notably Mr V Mordekar , Mr Vasant Molio, Prof Harish
Nagvekar to put a check on the vitriolic writings of
Mr Bhembre who he felt had gone paranoid over the near
victory of the Romi lipi forces.
"No one can prevent the Romi lipi "he said
multiplicity of scripts will unite and not divide
Goans he cautioned. The mess created in the Official
Language Act is by people of the likes of Mr Bhembre.
It was all intended so that the funds of over one
crore alloted to Konkani by the Government of Goa
would be utilised by these few leaders who have found
the Goa Konknni Academy as their "grazing pasture"
referring to people like Mr Pundalik Naik Mr N (Naik)
Shivdas and others. He also informed that there is NO
denial that Marathi is the language used by all
Hindus in Goa for religious purpose , there is no
doubt on this score. He brought to the notice of the
audience that Mr Luisinho Faleiro Minister for
Education who has become a 'koidi' (slave) of the pro
Konkani ONLY in Devnagari script " and whose birthday
will be celebrated on 26th August is intending to
distribute a small magazine in Marathi, on the
occasion of Ganesh Chathurti (it is a tradition in Goa
to come out with such publications during Diwali and
Ganesh Chathurti)
He asked Mr Girish Chodankar who had come to his
residence at Gogol to inform him about the same to
enquire with Mr Faleiro why he had not published the
same in Konkani in Devanagari script? if that is the
language used by all Hindus in performing their
religious rites. This dual stance was the cause of
turmoil that the state will witness shortly.
He threatened Mr Bhembre to speak out his mind in the
same Gogol at Fatorda where late Master Floriano Vaz
the first Konkani martyr was killed on 20th December,
1986 and asked him to be prepared for the future
course of action which will unfurl in the days to
come.
It is the forces in support of Konkani in Roman script
that had provided the financial and moral support for
Konkani in Roman not devanagari script he said while
Mr Bhembre and his compatriats were digesting the
fruits of the Official Language Act 1987.
Mr Buyao also warned Mr Dattaraj Salgaocar son of
mine owner late Vassudev M Salgaocar not to let the
Sunaparant a periodical which survives on 1500 copies
circulation and funds from Government in the form of
advertisements not to turn it into a Goonda Suniya
Aparant ie.because of the rascals like RSS Chief in
Goa Mr Subhash Velingkar teacher, Mr N(Naik) Shivdas
teacher, and others writing on the current script
controversy. He also stated that they had refused to
publish his writings to contradict their utterances
and even threatened the editor Mr Prabhaker Dage
of a Marathi daily Pudhari for supporting the cause
of Goa and Goans and multiplicity in scripts. Mr Buyao
stated that Mr Bhembre latest article calling others
drunkards (Batli) was a sign of frustration as not
even Saraswat Brahmins read this newspapers and no
other newspaper would publish his trash.
As expected most of the Saraswat Brahmin community
boycotted the function .
Mr Eric Ozario President of the Karnataka Konknni
Academy who was the chief guest spoke of the Konknni
movement in Karnataka . He said that Konknni made
history when its Kannada script was accepted in std
VI schools in Karnataka by the Government of
Karnataka. Later speaking to this writer he was
certain that it is also going to be the third
language by the next academic year 2007-08 as per the
assurance given by the CM of Karnataka.
Ms Joanita Fernandes gave a brief history of the
recipient Mr Buyao while Ms Preta Naik delivered the
vote of thanks.
Earlier Mr Buyaos son daughter and grand children
sang songs in Konkani Ek sarache git ekvottache git
Ganapatti Bappa Mourya which was appreciated by the
audience.
The August 06 issue of "Goencho Ulo" was distributed
and other periodicals of the TSSK were put up for sale
besides the Bhakti Shobann of Mr Eric Ozario. A CD
Chan neache Ratim emotionally described as Ulhas
Buyaos original treasure a song which was sung at the
time of Opinion Poll 1966-67 in all the villages of
Goa specially in South Goa was also put up for sale.
A book titled Novi Fantodd in Konkani Roman script was
released by Mr Eric Ozario on the occasion.
Photos of function mailed separately.
FROM THE OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH HALL
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
BORDA MARGAO GOA
9822158584
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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