1. Are these parents Goan? 2. Do their views matter?
3. Do their views matter more or less than that of the Kangress High command i.e. Sonia Gandhi who approved English as MOI? 4. Do you know that this result might be replicated in hundreds of other primary schools across goa? Response: 1. Are you aware that English too is a regional language of India. If in doubt, please check up the regional languages of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram. English is also one of the official languages of Uttarakhand, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and a few other states. 2. Is the mother tongue of goans Marathi or Konkani? 3. Whose regional language is Mr Pai referring to? His own or others? Now to Anil Desai's questions: 1.We have no way of knowing if they are goans or not. But if goans, it is a pity that they have disowned their mother tongue, konkani for another language which is hostile to the mother tongue of goans. 2.In a democracy all views matter and count. 3.Anil like Barad suffers from Soniaphobia. Maybe he can explain to us how Sonia figures in this. 4. It may be just as the choice of English as the MoI is being replicated in many schools throughout Goa. Anyway, what is your beef? No one has prevented those who want to study in konkani or marathi medium from doing so? Why do you want to discriminate against those who want to study in the English medium. Why do you want to deny them their choice? I am sure Anil will surely provide all the answers to the above as he has always done before. Regards, Marshall Response: First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my simple questions. Marshall, who I know is a Kangress boy wants me to answer the above questions and I will try my best to answer.I will then comment on Selma's 'respect for democracy' and one or two other points made. Frederick Noronha has answered the question that Santosh raised and I agree with Frederick's post entirely. I just wish this whole issue was handled differently by Digubab. If there is enough money in the coffers, I for one would support even Persian and Arabic to be taught in our primary schools. Coming to Marshall's questions: 1. This debate is about Goa and Goa's regional languages. 2. Good answer. 3. There is no Soniaphobia as you put it. Before making a crass comment like this, you should have taken the trouble to understand how this issue was handled by Kangress. 'Force', aptly named, tried to force this issue of MOI with threats from the likes of Alemao whose contribution to Goan Childrens' education is legendary. Kangress was in a bind as atleast seven MLAs currently in the ruling combine (Rane jr and sr, Dhavalikar brothers, Ravi Naik, Dayanand Narvekar, Gawas and possibly Nilkant Halarnkar) are strong supporters of Marathi because of their constituencies). Digubab therefore had to refer this matter to Kangress high command and by now Marshall should understand that High command is Sonia Gandhi. 4. I have no doubt that there are schools where as in the Calangute school where there was 100% support for English and their demand should be considered sympathetically. My beef is this: If Kangress wanted English as MOI, they should have spelt it out before the last election in their manifesto. They could do the same in their next manifesto. Alternatively,they could have put up a motion for debate in the assembly and taken a vote of all the elected representatives. These would have been democratic ways of handling the issue. They have done neither What was done instead was: Monseratte as education minister, in answer to a question, stated in the assembly that there will be status quo about MOI. Within a month, 'Force' forced the issue with threats and Soniaji of the High Command promptly responded. Now, if we get so upset about a BJP or NCP person commenting on this issue, can we have the courage, as Goans, to question what right Kangress High command has to pronounce on this issue. Now, Selma will probably explain how she considers the decision about MOI was democratic. I think the catholic readers of this forum need to understand that there are Goans like myself who consider Marathi as their mother tongue. Marathi is one of the richest languages amongst the Indian regional languages and we love it from the bottom of our heart. Just as the love for English or Portuguese that catholics have does not mean they want to merge Goa with the UK or Portugal, love for Marathi does not equate with penchant for merger of Goa with Maharashtra. So, labelling the supporters of Marathi/Konkani as mergerists and communalists is just as bad as the other camp calling English supporters denationalised. Now, will Bernard Colaco tell people who support English to go to England or should I? Anil Desai
