Dear friends,
For the last few years, owing to repeated usage, the term "Romi Konknni" has
come to mean "Konkani language written in Roman script." And this is what any
Goan reader of newspapers and periodicals (whether English or Konkani)
understands by this term which is now well entrenched in Konkani literature.
One will not come across even one reader (barring perhaps Tomazinho Cardozo of
Whithered Debate notoriety) for whom this term means "Konkani language brought
from Rome or Italy."
In the VAVRADDEANCHO IXTT dated March 20, 2010, Tomazinho Cardozo has written
an article entitled «Konknni ani "Romi Konknni"» under his regular column
"Pollelam tem Boroilam." In this article he makes a robust attempt to dissuade
Konkani writers from using the term "Romi Konknni." And the reason is - hold
your breath - "because when we say 'Romi Konknni' we admit that this Konkani
was brought from Rome or from the country Italy." [Kiteak "Romi Konknni" jednam
ami mhunnttanv tednam ami mandun ghetanv ki hi Konknni Romak thavn vo Italia
desant thavn haddloli mhunn.]
He begins by saying, « It has become a habit with some people to create a
confusion in a place where there reigns a peaceful atmosphere. Through this
confusion, they try to attain their nefarious goals. After creating this
confusion, their aspiration is to show one day that what they had said was
correct. And I do not hesitate to declare that this is their very objective
behind referring to Konkani language written in Roman script as 'Romi Konknni.'
» [Xant vatthavoronn asa thoim guspagonddoll kor-pachi thoddeank sonvoim
zalea. Guspa-gonddollantleant aplem sadovpachem tanche yotn asta. Guspagonddoll
rochlea uprant eka disa aple duxtt vichar sarke asle mhonn dakhovpacho tancho
hetu asta. Romi lipint boroitole Konknni bhaxek "Romi Konknni" mhunnpant tancho
hoch hetu asa mhonn sangpak hanv fattim sorona.] No prizes for guessing who
his target is. Obviously it is his (former?) crony and protege, Michael
Gracias, Publisher / Chief Editor of JIVIT
Konkani monthly. How come? On 21 Feb, 2010 Tomazinho berated the
participants in the Seminar at Second Romi Konknni Sammelon for using the terms
'Romi Konknni' and 'Roman Konkani' (forget the fact that he had himself used
'ROMAN KONKANI' in an article which appeared in the daily paper of that very
day!). Notwithstanding this fatwa, Gracias wrote a very ungracious (from
Tomazinho's point of view) editorial in the March issue wherein he not only
used 'Romi Konknni' several times but also lambasted an 'elder' [mhalgoddo] who
is unmistakably Tomazinho. Strong enough reason for Tomazinho to vent his
spleen on Michael!
From past experience, we know that Tomazinho and Logic seldom go together. But
the following statement takes the cake: "Yet some eveil men support the
reference to Konkani language written in Roman script as 'Romi Konknni.' The
reason is that the chief aim of these Pandits of Konkani, who do not want
Konknai language in any other script to remain alive save the Konkani language
written in Devanagari script, is to defame the followers of Konkani written in
Roman script." [Torui punn Romi lipyent boroilole Konknni bhaxek "Romi
Konknni" mhunnpak kaim duxtt monis tenko ditat. Hachem karonn mhonnlear he
Konknniche Pandit, zankam Devnagori lipyent boroilole Konknni bhaxe xivai anik
khoinchech dusre lipyent Konknni bhas fuddarak jivi urloli naka, tancho mukhel
hetu mhonnlear Romi lipyent boroilole Konknni bhaxechea pattlavddarank bodnam’
korpacho.] He forgets the fact that it was Michael who started his Konkani
monthly in Roman script two years before
Tomazinho launched his own GOYKAR which, even today, is only a bimonthly in
spite of a bonanza of Government advertisements which JIVIT does not get.
Moreover, how could the followers of Konkani language written in Roman script
get defamed if the Konkani language written in Roman script is referred to as
'Romi Konknni'? Was this his intention when he used this term day in and day
out during the last six years both in the press and from the platform? Which
followers of Konkani in Roman script felt defamed in the last few years when
this term has been repeatedly used in both written and spoken form by various
people, including Tomazinho? Can Tomazinho identify them? What advantage will
his phantom Pandits gain by such reference?
But he performs what for him is a rare feat when he speaks the absolute truth
and hits the nail squarely on its head by saying, « We must refer to the
Konkani language written in Roman script as 'Konknni written in Roman script.'
In that case, why do we refer to it as "Romi Konknni"? Is there some secret
hidden here? This evil habit of referring to this Konkani and that Konkani was
started by our Konkani leader for his own selfish motives.» [Romi lipyent
boroilole Konknni bhaxek ami 'Romi lipyent boroiloli Konknni' mhunnonk zai.
Oxem zalear ami tika "Romi Konknni" kiteak mhunnttanv tor? kitem tori liplolo
ghutt asa kai? Hi Konknni ani ti Konknni mhunnpachi paddi sonvoim amchea
Konknni fuddareanich, aplea svartha khatir, suru keli.] Let us see which
Konkani leader started this habit of referring to "Romi Konknni" and
"Devanagari Konkani". The earliest instance that I could unearth is in GULAB
Konkani monthly of October 2003 (p. 30) wherein
Tomazinho says « 5. How much money has the Goa Konkani Akademi, which runs on
government's, i.e. people’s funds, spent on the development of Devanagari
Konknni and Romi Konknni? » [5. Konknni Akademi, ji Sorkari mhunnche
porjechea duddvamni cholta, tannim Devnagri Konknnichi ani Romi Konknnichi
udorgot korunk kitlo duddu khorchila?] So Tomazinho himself is the Konkani
leader who started this 'evil' habit, because not only was he the first to coin
the terms, but also their most frequent user both in Konkani and in English.
It is also true that this was done for his own selfish motive as can be seen
from the benefits that he derived from this use over the last five years.
But why is he hellbent upon banishing a term which was not only coined by him,
but has been for him a veritable mint? This is a conundrum which only he can
solve for us. Be that as it may, will it be easy to banish a term which has
got itself so deeply entrenched in current usage?
Sotachench Zoit zatolem. Truth alone shall prevail.
Mog asum.
Sebastian Borges
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