To Goanet - This is a response to Rajiv Desai.
Rajiv, Your piece reveals a profound lack of understanding of Goa and Goans. The pro-Marathi/pro-Konkani forces are not "fringe" per your claim, but are mainstream Goan Hindus, and a large majority at that. It is odd that whenever major figures from the Indian media descend on Goa, the people they seek are almost always D'Souzas and Fernandeses, never a Haldankar or a Bhobe. It is as if we Goan Hindus are invisible to them. When Congress hack Burqa Dutt came to Goa some years ago to do a story, she even had some non-Goans on her panel, but not a single Goan Hindu. I am perplexed why the English-language media thinks that over 70% of the Goan population does not deserve representation. [Note: my objection is not to the presence of Goan Catholics on panels or that their opinion is reported on matters pertaining to Goa; it is to the absence of the Goan Hindu perspective.] As you may know (or not), there are culturally two Goa's - a Hindu Goa and a Catholic Goa. I do not mean to say these are exclusive groups. To be sure, we share a lot of deep and common habits, traits, mannerisms, and experiences that go with the land and its ethos - all of which come under the rubric of our common Goan Identity. But there are important ways in which we differ in our cultural expression and modes. To almost all Goan Hindus, Marathi has been the language of cultural expression. Marathi's impress on the Goan Hindu psyche predates the BJP or as you call them, the "Hindutva forces." It has little to do with the relatively recent political movement initiated by the MGP Party to merge Goa with Maharashtra. The association of the Goan Hindu with Marathi is much older. Take my example: I am a staunch Goan nationalist and I curse the Indian intrusion into Goa - you can see the trash heap that Goa has been turned into by Indians (with generous Goan help, mind you) in the past 10 years. I want nothing to do with Maharashtra. I went to an English medium school from day one. I am not a BJPwallah but I have the utmost contempt for Congress and wish the worst on scum like Sonia and her spawn - indeed the entire Gandhi clan. Culturally and emotionally I am a Hindu and identify deeply with our Gods; intellectually I am an atheist. I love the English language and it is the only language that I claim a reasonable proficiency in. I give you this unabridged autobiography because I do not fit your caricature of the pro-Marathi/pro-Konkani Goan Hindu. You have demonstrated mental sloth and the easy way out by branding those you disagree with as "Hindutva" - by now an old, stale tactic. Even with no formal training in Marathi, that language has always been present to my imagination and to the imagination of my fellow Goan Hindus. We were weaned on the great Marathi musical dramas, we arose to Marathi abhangas and natyageetas, we heard shoklas of Dynaneshwar and Ramdas at the feet of our mothers and grandmothers, and all our festivals and religious rituals invoke Marathi-based material. In short, Marathi was the most important vehicle of our cultural expression and we retain a deep memory of it. Konkani is our mother tongue, an integral part of our being, not subservient to Marathi in any way - but the substance and fibre of the Goan Hindu's cultural diet has come from Marathi. Goan Hindus have contributed tremendously to Indian culture and it has been almost wholly through the medium of Marathi. So I reject your sentiment that those who have come out in support of Marathi and Konkani as the medium of instruction are language chauvinists. We recognize and know our roots and we want to hold on to them. Where did you get the idea that we are anti-English? It does not compute. Au contraire. I think most of the protagonists recognize the value of the English language and its importance in contemporary civilization. I will concede one minor point to you: the pro-Marathi/pro-Konkani group has not been very effective in presenting the points I have just made in a coherent manner. Therefore, it is easy to misrepresent them, and worse, to amplify the words of a few opportunistic fringe elements who can always be counted to latch on to a hot button issue to further their own agenda. What is odd is that you haven't recognized that the guy who is Minister of Education is Goa is a semi-literate thug whose rightful place is in the Tihar jail. And this guy is making education policy! That's the biggest friggin' joke. Regards, r
