WHO IS AN 'INSIDER', WHO IS AN 'OUTSIDER' Debates on language, promoting it and other pressing issues
By Walter Menezes [email protected] A memorial lecture and the release of two new Konknni books in Romi script marked the highlights of the function organized last week by Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) to commemorate its First President, late Fr. Freddy J da Costa. The well-attended function was held on July 19, 2011, the eve of Fr. Freddy's birth anniversary at Tiatr Akademi's Conference Hall, Campal, Panaji, Goa. CHILDREN'S BOOKS, PLAGARISM Noted writer and artist Dr. Savia Viegas <[email protected]> who delivered the Memorial Lecture on Gõychi Osmitai (The Goan Indentity) made a strong pitch to preserve, protect and promote Konknni, our mother tongue. While coming down heavily on plagiarism which she noticed in children's books in Konknni published by state-funded academies, she not only advocated stringent monitoring during the process of publishing such books but also initial screening and printing. Thinking in Konknni could be encouraged by publishing translations of books on science and technology as these are fields of the future, she added. Dr. Viegas, who runs Saxtti School meant for pre-primary students in Carmona, said that 'to love our language was one thing... to take it forward was another.' Citing the examples of geographically-small Scandinavian nations where books from other languages were readily made available through rapid translations, she said the need of the hour was to see that works from other languages were translated in Konknni. Taking a dig at the debate about Goans and non-Goans, the Senior Fulbright Fellow said that the time has come to 'redefine' terms like bhitorle (insiders) and bhaile (outsiders) since one could not help but notice that bhitorle were acting more like bhaile, least concerned about Goa's future. A niz Goykar, she felt, was one who stood up to safeguard the interests of Goa and Goans and highlighted the people's movement against SEZs in 2005. 'Zomnichi ani porjechi kosli gantt asa ti dakhoun dili.. (One could see the bond existing between the people and their land)', she expressed and went on to say that in the process Goa showed the way for similar movements which followed in Singur (against the Tatas), Orissa (against the Posko Steel) and Maharashtra (against the Ambanis). Dr Savia Viegas also dwelt on Gõychi oskotai (weakness), the need for better wage structure for teachers in private pre-primary and primary schools and the diret (privilege) and zababdari (responsibility) of every Goan. Quoting from Kautilyas Arthashastra, she said that whenever people begin to leave a region the Arthashastra states that the king is to be blamed. We have to understand why so many young people do not want to stay in Goa and change this. Goa should not only be a paradise for old pensioners. The sacrifice of the primeval man as explained in our social stratification allowed the Brahmins to emerge from his head, the Kshatriyas from his torso and arms, the Vaishyas from his thighs and the Shudras from his feet. She suggested that it is time to reverse this yagna and allow people to absorb the qualities of the Brahmin intellect, the strength and valour of the Kshatriya, the business acumen of the Vaishya and the hardwork and humility of the Shudra to become whole human being in order to create a new thinking and able middle-class'. Two new Konknni books Dr. Viegas, author of the novel Tales from the Attic, later released two Konknni books in Romi script, Cirilo D Fernandes' Mhojea Bannavle Ganvant and Fr. Louis Alvares' Ami Povitr Sobha, both published under DKA's 'Pikavoll' scheme. While Mhojea Bannavle Ganvant is a collection of 101 poems -- some, including the title poem, offering the reader a glimpse of Benaulim, Ami Povitr Sobha is divided into five parts and helps the Catholic - religious as well as lay person - to conduct prayer services during meetings and special occasions. Incidentally, this book has the official nod from the Church and carries the imprimatur from His Excellency, Filipe Neri Ferrão, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman. (A version of this article appeared on Gomantak Times dated 27.7.2011) ENDS Pic 1: Release of Mhojea Bannavle Ganvant (From L-R) Poet Cirilo Fernandes, DKA President Premanand Lotlikar, Dr Savia Viegas, Fr Louis Alvares and DKA Secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/5982113035/in/photostream Pic 2: Fr Louis Alvares smiles as his book Ami Povitr Sobha is released by Dr Savia Viegas http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/5982112829/in/photostream Pic 3 and 4: book covers http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/5982673542/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/5982112355/in/photostream
