Dears, A new Magazine in Konkani has hit the news stands in Goa on Republic Day. It is appropriately called the KONKANN DIVO [Light of the Konkan coast]. The 50 pages, standard size magazine, with cover and four pages in colour, is edited and published by Shri Ashok R.Chodankar from Vasco.
Ashok R.Chodankar is a well known Konkani writer and poet, who writes in Devanagri and Roman scripts. He is a receipient of the first "Konknni Martyr Floriano Vaz" Award in perhaps the last public function in Goa that was attended by Goem Shahir Ulhas Buyao on 04 February, 2007 at Margao. His book is in both the scripts in one cover. Perhaps, the response to his book has shown him who reads Konkani and appreciates it more in which script. In my humble opinion, there need be no prizes for guessing the right answer. It is not even debatable in Goa. In his choice of the Roman script by Ashok R.Chodankar, he shows more understanding of the ground reality than the publishers and editor of Vavreaddeancho IXTT, who have begun experimenting in the use of the Devanagri script in the 75 year old weekly. [That the "experimental" scripts were actually transliterated for two priests of the "Catholics for Devanagri" who do not know to write the Devanagri script is no secret at all.] The writer base of the magazine is good: Dr. Harishchandra Nagvekar [former Principal of MES College], Tomazinho Cardoz [former Speaker and President of DKA], Yusuf Shaik [former Director of Doordarshan, Panaji], Daniel F.D'Souza [prolific writer in Konkani and English], Pandharinath Damodar Lotlikar [former Director, AIR, Panaji], Dr.Bicaji Ganecar [Anchor of the Mando festivals], Selza Lopes, Anil Kamat Sankhalkar,Stanley Vaz and poets Ashok Chodankar, Cyril D. Fernandes, Arti A.Ghate, Andre Joa Fernandes,Vidya Sawant and Menino Almeida. This is just the first issue. I am sure more persons will write for this new magazine as they do for JIVIT, which promotes Konkani in the script it publishes. It is still beyond my comprehension why IXTT, which has a readership that is almost exclusively from Roman script Konkani reading population that does not even read English, leave alone Konkani in Devanagri, wants to play with a fire that may well prove fatal to it. Hum hai naye, andaz kyon hai purane? I join a multitude of Konkani lovers who wish Ashok R. Chodankar all the very best ...and all the success in his new publication. May it grow and fill the state with its fragrance. Mog asundi. Miguel -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
