[A] Sebastian Borges wrote: not a single Konkani book in Roman script was printed between 1660 and 1890 any where in the world? And also that no Konkani book was printed in Goa even between 1890 and 1928? I hereby challenge Fr.Pratap Naik to prove me wrong on this count; and this is not the first time I am throwing this challenge.
Miguel Braganza responded: Is the good Prof. S.M. Borges willing to swear an affidavit before a Notary to state that "not a single Konkani book in Roman script was printed between 1660 and 1890 any where in the world? And also that no Konkani book was printed in Goa even between 1890 and 1928? " as alleged by him? I am willing to take him on his challenge with evidence to the contrary. It exists. JC's response: Dear Miguelbab, I have two problems with the above. Firstly, Prof. S.M. Borges has not challenged Miguel Braganza. He has challenged Fr.Pratap Naik to prove him wrong. Just because you have the actual facts does not mean that others are not entitled to their own manufactured facts. Have you not heard of gene-modification (GM) in agriculture? So - what is wrong with a little fact modification (FM) in debates? Politicians and their operatives do it all the time. Do they not? Secondly, Prof. S.M. Borges has not advised us what he will undertake to do IF he is proven wrong. This is a one-sided Borgesian challenge. Now, here is my Borgesian challenge [1] to Prof. S.M. Borges: Prove that the language you purport to speak and write, is Konkani. [B] Sebastian Borges wrote: Fr. Naik also exploded his own pet myth: that Devanagari script is of the Hindus whilst Roman script is of the Roman Catholics. Miguel Braganza responded: Can the good Prof. Borges produce any evidence where Fr. Pratap Naik SJ has SAID "Devanagari script is of the Hindus whilst Roman script is of the Roman Catholics" as claimed by the Prof. Why is the Prof. tripping over his own imagination? JC's response: Dear Miguelbab, I do not believe that Sebastian Borges wrote anywhere that Fr. Naik SAID that. He only wrote that it is his PET MYTH. I have many PET NON-MYTHS ....here is one: We as a people have allowed such matters to divide us while our land is being ripped off its resources by people who think that we are spectacularly stupid. We expend all this energy on Devanagri and Romi script for a supposed Konkani language which is NOT the Konkani language we generally speak....nor spoke. We decapitated the Portuguese words which were part of our language and added Sanskrit or Marathi words which were NOT part of our language. We were told that THIS is the only way we should speak and write our language. It appears that Language was developed first, and then we Goans learnt to speak, and that Konkani was NOT meant to be living language which assimilated influences that time brings (or brought) along. No wonder we speak another colonial language i.e. English! Here is my Borgesian challenge [2] to Prof. S.M. Borges: Prove that Sanskrit is NOT a colonial language. While I await the good Prof. Borges' response to Miguel's gauntlet (I expect him to treat my Borgesian challenges with the contempt they deserve), I invite us to listen to this piece of music. Do please pay attention to the various instruments and, if you have the time, tell us if it reminds you of anything: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRz3aJE4tS0 much love jc
