In a shocking development, according to protoganists of Konkani in Roman
script, the Chief Minister Shri Digamber V Kamat, who also holds the portfolio
of Official languages will preside as Chairman over the 12th Meeting of the
Advisory Board for Official Language on 26th September, 2008 to put " into
action " the implementation with effect from 1st October, 2008 of the Official
Language Act 1987 in its present form.
What has been considered as a sure sign of betrayal by the Chief Minister is
that despite his assurance on the floor of the Goa Legislative Assembly to the
Leader of the Opposition who put a spirited defence for official recognition to
Konkani in Roman script in the last monsoon session in August, 2008 while
replying to Demand No 27 Official Language, is that he promised to convene a
Special session to thresh out the language issue once and for all. But before
this step he has now done a 'volte face" and gone ahead to get the OLA 1987 in
its present form to be implemented.
It may be recalled for the first time the coalition Government of Goa on the
Treasury Benches viz the INC NCP MGP Independent unattached members tried to
partially undo what the INC had passed in 1987.
In doing that this coalition government has for the first time corrected
/accepted that the Government accepts Konkani as the official language
irrespective of scripts viz either in Devanagari or Roman script.
Though the peoples movement under the banner of KPA in 1985-87 was always
intended for official recognition to Konkani in Roman script and not in
Devanagari script.
Having passed the demands allocation of Rs.23 lacs for non developmental
expenditure and Rs.115 lacs for plan expenditure for the year 2008 -2009
inclisive of special "grants" for Marathi language 50 lacs and only
"assistance" not grants of Rs,15 lacs for Konkani in Roman script -- (through a
regd organisation Dalgado Konknni Academy) it rightly ought to have brought
about an amendment to OLA 1987 deleting the words in section 2(c) Konkani "
(means in devanagari script) " as a logical corollary
However not having done so even though demands to this effect were well
presented before " Demands related to the adhoc committee " in June 2008 on
Official languages by Dr Pratap Naik Director TSKK Porvorim, Mr Wilmix Wilson
Mazarello Convenor Romi Lipi Action Front, and this writer, the promise held
out for a special session was welcomed with a guarded approach.
Ironically now as in the past the Advisory Board appointed by the Government
consists of
Mr Digambar V Kamat (CM Goa) Chairman -- pro Konkani Devanagiri script
Mr Shantaram L Naik Adv ( MP Rajya Sabha )Vice Chairman --- neutral
Mr Tomazinho Cardozo ex Speaker pro Konkani Roman /Devanagiri script
Mr Uday L Bhembre (Adv & ex MLA Margao ---pro Konkani Devanagari script
Mr Vishnu Wagh -- dramatist -- protoganist for Marathi
Mr Raju Nayak -- journalist -- pro Konkani Devanagari script
Mr N (Naik) Shivdas -teacher - pro Konkani Devanagari script
Mr Damodar Mauzo - writer - pro Konkani Devanagari script
Mr Shambu Bhau Bandekar SC ex MLA - pro Marathi
Mr Prakash Vazrikar protoganist Marathi
Mr Sadguru Patil (non goan) protoganist Marathi
Mr Michael Gracias writer/publisher) pro Konkani Roman /Devanagiri script
Mr Premanand Naik Konkani playwright pro Konkani Roman /Devanagiri script
Mr Prashant Naik activist pro Konkani Devanagiri script
Thus with three Saraswat Brahmins viz Kamat, Bhembre, Nayak and Mauzo all heavy
weights and their "Men Friday" against only the foursome Mr Cardozo, Mr Gracias
and Mr Premanad Naik they can niether be
a) expected to register their "PROTEST" against this meet (which would be in
violation of the assurance on the floor of the Goa Legislative Assembly )
nor will they be able to get their views recorded at this meet to press for
Konkani in Roman script - as the agenda clearly speaks of implementations of
the OLA 1987
Hence there is a vociferous demand from several protoganists of Konkani in
Roman script that the foursome should
a) boycott the proceedings of tommorrows meet of the Official Languages Board
b) lodge their strong protest before the Governor, the Speaker /Leader of the
Opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly forthwith, against the breach of
assurance by the CM and demand convening of the Special session as assured.
and ultimately
c) call a Press conference to convey their resentment and resign en masse from
the Advisory Board before the commencement of the meet.
This is the only way they feel will stall the clandestine attempts of the
protoganist of Konkani in Devanagari script headed by the CM to pursue their
nefarious demands even in the wake of protests since June 2005 which has been
slowly but surely been turning the tide against the protoganist of Konkani in
Devanagari script .
There is a special mention to Mr Premand Lotlikar President and Mr Tomazinho
Cardozo ex President not to fall prey to the machinations of the Konkani pro
devanagari lobby as now the 15 lacs "assistance" assured in the current Budget
will eventually have to be released to the Dalgado Konkani Academy before the
year end March 2009 as this amount cannot be denied to DKA.
But if the agenda of the OLA 1987 in its present form is pursued tommorrow
then the whole movement revitalised since 2005 will be defeated if the foursome
fail to heed sane advice.
The reason why the CM has decided to convene the meet according to a top
official from the Directorate of Official Languages who spoke telephonically to
this writer today evening -- but insisted that the same was informal ---- is
that with the prospects of a Mid term poll before the end of the second half
(Sept - Mar 2009) an announcement by the Election Commission would attract the
Code of Conduct and hence the hurry to release funds for the benefit of the
Konkani pro Devanagari script lobby mainly the Hindu Brahmins with a few crumbs
thrown to the " noveau Brahmins " from among the Hindu Bahujan Samaj who are
made to Kow tow the Konkani pro devanagari script because they live off the
income derived from the Government treasury for their sustenance.
The 13 Catholic MLA's of the Goa Legislative Assembly should also note that the
voters and future generations will hold them responsible for paying mere lip
sympathy to the cause of grant of official recognition to Konkani in Roman
script if they fail to support this cause towards rectifying the injustice done
to the Catholics who are being eliminated from the Executive and the
Legislature slowly but surely and will complete full circle in this nefarious
designs by the term end of the current assembly in 2012.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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