Educational Institutions for "Roman Script Konkani"
By: Wilmix Wilson Mazarello
(Covenor, Romi Lipi Action Front)
Mr. Mahavir Sanglikar, the prominent Historian, Journalist and Social
Activist from Pune (Maharashtra) strongly proposes the use of the Roman
Script for all Indian Languages.
His reasoning is based on pure “logic” deduced from Darwin’s Theory of
Evolution viz. “Survival of the Fittest”.
Mr. Sanglikar believes, that Roman Script being the strongest “Script”
in today’s World, will eventually devour all other Scripts and with it ,
all the languages that use the weaker Scripts.
Mahavir Sanglikar shows concern for all our Indian languages and hence
proposes that all Indian languages change over to the Roman Script at
the earliest, to ensure their very survival.
Our Mother tongue Konkani also being one of the Indian languages,
Sanglikar’s logic applies to Konkani also.
Hence, any Goan or a ‘Konknni ‘ who claims to love his Mother-Tongue and
really means it , will want to save it and ensure it’s future, by
welcoming the Roman Script.
Fortunately for us, here in Goa, we are lucky that we already have the
Roman Script and it’s use is growing with every passing day.
More and more Goans, than ever before, are now writing Books, Poems,
Songs and other Literature in Roman Script Konkani.
The Catholic Church of Goa has all its religious Literature already
published in the Roman Script Konkani. Fortunately for us, whatever
little English Religious Literature that has percolated into the
Catholic Church of Goa, also happens to be in the Roman Script.
Further, the “Thomas Stephen’s Konknni Kendra”(Porvorim-Goa), has
already standardized Roman Script Konkani to a level of ‘almost perfection’.
The same “Thomas Stephen’s Konknni Kendra”(Porvorim- Goa) is also
already working on School Text-Books for Schools in Roman Script
Konkani. These Books should be ready for use as early as June 2012.
It is at this juncture that we will need “Volunteer-Schools” to put
these Books into use. Yes, we will , if need be , have to start new
Schools that will start teaching subjects in Roman Script Konkani.
We will need Goan Educationalists / Philanthropists , who will invest
into Konkani Education in Roman Script.
There is no Government ban on Schools teaching Konkani in Roman Script ,
nor is there a Government ban on new Schools coming up to teach Konkani
in Roman Script.
It is true, that the Government of Goa will not give Grants to such
Schools, but they will definitely not stop Schools from teaching Roman
Script Konkani , if the Schools can manage their own “funds”.
I do understand it will be a big “Sacrifice” for Goan Educationalists ,
who will be willing to start such Schools.
But, my dear Goan Brothers and Sisters, our Mother Tongue Konkani
“needs” these Sacrifices now, so that our beloved “Avoi -Bhaas” Konkani
,survives and grows. No one else, but we the Roman Script users can save
Konkani.
Let’s do it for our “Avoi-Bhaas’ . Let’s do it for our future generations.
The same future generations will always remain indebted to those who
cared to show their foresight, their vision and their love for Konkani.
We have just a year to go. The day will soon be knocking on our door.
Let’s be prepared.
“Mhojya Goykar Bhava –Bhoinnano”, let’s start thinking in that
direction, beginning today.
To the Goan Educationalists / Philanthropists I appeal “If you love your
Avoi-Bhaas, then keep aside some of your money for this good cause. A
cause which is very very dear to our hearts ie. Roman Script Konkani
Education”.
(ENDS)
