Discussion on Official Language Act 1987 in the Goa Assembly
On Monday, 25 August 2008, in Goa Legislative Assembly during ‘Demands’ 8
members Including the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat spoke on the Official
Language Act 1987. The demand for discussion of this topic was laid before the
house by Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Leader of the Opposition.
Dy. Speaker Mr. Mauvin Godinho was the first person to speak on this topic. He
was followed by Mrs. Victoria Feranandes (St. Cruz), Mr. Agnelo Fernandes
(Calangute), Mr. Alexio Reginaldo Lourenço (Curtorim), Mr. Manohar Parrikar,
Mr. Dayanand Mandrekar (Siolim), Mr. Francisco Silveira and Chief Minister.
All the speakers were in favour of giving its due place to Roman script in the
Official Language Act. Parrikar was the best speaker. He had done thorough
home work. One could see this the way he spoke and presented the matter in the
house. He suggested to form a committee comprising MLAs , Marathi protagonists
and Roman script Protagonists and within two months to come to a consensus on
the language issue and to settle it based on the views of the majority. Three
of the Catholic MLAs who spoke in favour of Roman script were using terms like
“Romani bhas”, “Romi bhas”, “Romi Konknni”. They did not know there are no
such notions.
In Goa Konknni is written in two scripts, Devanagari and Roman scripts and
they use two different dialects, namely, Antruzi and Bardeshi. Mandrekar made
a statement that Devanagari script is the mother of all scripts and it is the
script of Sanskrit. He and many others do not know the history of Indian
scripts. Brahmi was the first Indian script and all other Indian scripts were
modification of it. Devanagari script evolved only in 900 A. D. Since Sanskrit
was written in many scripts, in 1857 the British decided to make the Devanagari
script the official script of Sanskrit to teach it as a subject in Calcutta,
Madras and Bombay Universities. Sanskrit was and is written in a number of
script.
While replying to the Demands, the CM said that he is ready to discuss this
issue and to find satisfactory solution once and for all for the good of Goa
and Goans. On Friday 29th August Parrikar’s private member resolution to
constitute a committee of representatives of MLS, supporters of Roman script
and supporters of Marathi will be discussed in the house. One has to wait and
see what the government will do to settle the long standing demand of Roman
script supporters.
Pratap Naik, S.J.
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