NATIONAL SEMINAR ON SCRIPTS AND LANGUAGES OF MODERN INDIA,
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO KONKANI
A BRIEF REPORT
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The National Seminar on ‘Scripts and Languages of Modern India with
Special Reference to Konkani’ was organized by Jagotik Konknni
Songhotton-JKS, at Kalaangann, Mangalore, on March 10 and 11, 2012.
102 delegates from Mumbai, Goa, Pune, Kerala, different parts of
Karnataka (mainly from Uttar Kannada, Mangalore, Bangalore and Mysore)
and also from Saudi Arabia and Germany – attended the Seminar.
Prof. Dr Valerian Rodrigues – Professor, Centre for Political Studies,
School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, a
highly respected and internationally recognized intellectual, author of
many books and a successful guide to many Ph.D.s and M.Phil.s, visiting
professor of many foreign universities – was the Chairperson of the Seminar.
The Eminent Panel of Experts –
i) Prof. Dr Anvita Abbi – Professor of Linguistics, Centre for
Linguistics, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
A world-renowned linguist on minority languages of the Indian sub-continent.
The President of the Linguistic Society of India.
Author of many unique books on language.
An authority on endangered languages and one who is involved with
Konkani since 1988.
She has produced 22 Doctorate candidates.
ii) Prof. Dr Alok Rai – Professor of English, Delhi University.
An expert on the ‘Hindu-Urdu conflict’.
Many international publishing houses have published his books. Most
noted among them is ‘Hindi Nationalism’ by Orient Longman.
He is the grandson of the famous Hindustani writer – Munshi Premchand.
iii) Dr Asha Sarangi – Associate Professor, Centre for Political
Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
An internationally recognized author of many books on Language and
Politics.
The most noted among them being – ‘Interrogating Reorganization of
States: Culture, Identity and Politics in India’ published by Routledge
and ‘Language and Politics in India’ published by Oxford University Press.
iv) Dr Madhavi Sardesai – A linguist serving in the Department of
Konkani, Goa University
One who has been actively involved in the Konkani Movement for the past
30 years.
v) Dr Prathapananda Naik – A linguist based in Goa and an authority on
all the 3 major scripts of Konkani, namely, Devanagari, Roman and Kannada.
Actively involved in the Konkani Movement since 1976.
vi) Ms Barbara Roeber – A linguist from Germany, whose area of study at
the Humboldt University of Berlin was ‘Comparative Linguistics and
Communication Science’.
Mr Anil Pinto – Department of English and Media Studies, Christ
University, Bangalore, who has conducted research on Konkani Plays and
Literature, ably emceed the deliberations all through the Seminar and
recorded the proceedings.
The Seminar began with the Inaugural at 4.00 p.m., with the Welcome
Address by the President of JKS, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, (Ex-speaker of
the Goan Assembly and presently heading the Tiatr Academy in Goa). Mr
Eric Ozario, the General Secretary, in a short presentation explained
the need and the goals of the Seminar. He said that the issue of script
has been plaguing Konkani for the past 70 years and until it is
resolved, Konkani cannot make any progress. The concerted attempts to
impose one script over all others is the root cause of this problem and
unless all scripts are given equal opportunities to grow, Konkani
literature will not flourish and Konkani unity will never be achieved.
He also said that if this policy of ‘imposing one script and in the
bargain destroying others’, continues, Konkani will not survive.
Regarding the purpose of the seminar, he said that this was a sincere
attempt to intellectually discuss the script issue, which so far has
been tackled only at the emotional level. This was also a genuine
attempt to seek outside intervention and expert advice. He hoped that
the seminar will prepare the base on which a democratic process would be
set in motion to once and for all settle the script issue in Konkani.
The Act of Inaugural was symbolic. The President of JKS presented a
mike, a pen and a scroll, placed in a decorated bowl, to the
Chairperson, Dr Valerian Rodrigues.
The Keynote Address by Dr Valerian Rodrigues
He remarked that script and language mark civilisations. Although
language and script are distinct they are related. The internal and
external diasporic constitution of Konkani speakers need to be factored
in. He stressed the need to defend the minority status of the language.
Speaking on the question of resource he said it needs to be discussed
whether the resources within Konkani go to the marginalised scripts and
dialects within Konkani or to those which are prominent. He also
discussed the need to stay with a script and yet explore ways of
connecting to other scripts.
Mr Roy Castelino, the treasurer of JKS, proposed the vote of thanks.
Paper I : by Dr Anvita Abbi on ‘Script and Language: Relationship and
Contentions’.
She stated that Konkani was like water – it took the shape of what it
was put in. She also said that script had been taken as a marker to mark
the identity of a language. She was very strong in her assertion that by
destroying scripts, we create illiterates. She suggested that a
Multi-script Digital Dictionary would go a long way in building bridges
between the various scripts of Konkani and she was of the opinion that
all scripts should be recognized and that a public policy must be
determined and in this direction a consensus must be evolved. She
pointed out that the practice of awarding awards for the script rather
than the language was unjustified and humiliated the receiver if he/she
was forced to transliterate the literature of his/her script into
another, for the award. She also wondered whether ‘Roman Script’ would
be the best to represent Konkani in today’s world. A lively discussion
followed.
In the Cultural Programme that evening at 6.30p.m., Tulsi, a play
adapted from the story written by Konkani’s only Jnan Peeth Award
winner, Late Ravindra Kelekar, was presented by Kalakul Theatre
Repertory of Mandd Sobhann - at the Kalaangann amphitheatre.
Paper II : by Prof. Dr Alok Rai on ‘Language Script and Dominance in India‘.
Dr Alok Rai, who is considered an authority on the ‘Hindi-Urdu
Controversy’, traced the controversy from the 19th century and explained
how a controversy which began with the demand for a script (Nagari),
developed into a language demand (Hindi) and further became a political
demand splitting two communities apart (Hindu and Muslim) and culminated
in the creation of two nations (India and Pakistan). He said Konkani
has lot of lessons to learn from this.
He also said that script is not an issue. But when it is made an issue,
it becomes the weapon for a struggle. He further said that lust for
unity is the cause for disunity. Behind script controversies lie
interests of classes and class positions. Citing the words of his Sri
Lankan friend he said that a demand for one language might create two
nations whereas acceptance of two languages might create one nation.
He raised some pertinent questions –
(i) What dies when a language dies?
(ii) What dies when a script dies?
(iii) What is killed when a script is killed?
In the interesting debate that followed, the following points were
thrown up :
(i) That a script never dies automatically, it is always killed.
(ii) Dialects are lost when scripts are lost.
(iii) Scripts depict an association with the region, and therefore,
when people adopt a script that is not of the region, the flavour of the
region is lost.
What was most interesting to note was that he took a definite position
on the issue, when he said ‘What is the problem of the ‘Sahitya Akademi
to recognize all five scripts of Konkani? All that it will cost them is
4 more shawls, other than the one they are already giving to Devanagari’.
Paper III : by Dr Asha Sarangi on ‘Language and Territory – Issues of
Rights and Identities’
She traced the link between – language and power and language and
culture. She provided certain statistics regarding languages in India
such as there are 22 recognized languages (in the 8th schedule of the
constitution), 418 languages in India spoken by more than 10000
speakers, A.I.R. broadcasts in 24 languages and 146 dialects, newspapers
in India are printed in 34 languages, 67 Languages are taught in primary
education, literacy campaigns are conducted in 80 languages, and there
are 1648 Mother tongues.
She argued for locating the issue of multiple vs single script in
Konkani within the larger political and social history and the present
political and linguistic context in India. She said that the language
was linked to the social person.
She located the origin of Konkani in Dravidian and Austro-Asian language
family rather than Indo-Aryan. She suggested that the Konkani language
and script issue also needs to be seen in its relationship to territories.
She insisted on looking at the political economy dimension of the
present issue. She said the issue of script could deepen the question of
language as a political right and a cultural right. She indicated that
not much of intellectual and activist work with relation to the
equations of Konkani with the state had taken place since the inclusion
of Konkani in the eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
She said that – Konkani’s script case is a case of cultural rights and
linguistic equality.
She concluded saying that multi-script is an asset, a treasure which
needs to be preserved.
Paper IV : by Dr Madhavi Sardesai on ‘The Case for a Single Script for
Konkani’
As Dr Madhavi could not be present physically due to ill health, her
paper was read-out by Mr Anil Pinto. The main points contained in her
paper are –
- All Scripts with the exception of Devanagari were historical accidents
– Devanagari was a conscious choice.
- Devanagari being the ‘Perfect Script’ of its ‘Mother-Language’, suits
its systems of sounds.
- The first session of the Parishad in 1929, resolved to adopt
Devanagari as it was ‘common script of all Aryan languages’.
- ‘One Language, One Script, One Literature, One Samaz’ has been the
explicit primary agenda of the Parishad.
- Shennoi Goembab declared – ‘The script of Konkani is none other than
the script of the Vedas’.
- He had also appealed to the Konkani people to adopt a single common
script if Konkani has to remain one language and not get divided into
two or three more languages on the basis of script.
- Devanagari carries the standard variety of Konkani.
- But she admitted that a community united under the banner of ‘One
Language-One Script–One literature–One Samaz’, still remains a far cry.
Finally the paper argued that –
‘A single script is the very scope for understanding and knowing one
another. Without this scope we would be forever condemned to our
isolated chambers and hopelessly remain a disintegrated and endangered
speech community’.
The discussion that followed, by and large, disagreed with the ‘single
script – Devanagari argument’. They felt that the All-India Parishad
was an exclusive organization of handful of people representing the
Devanagari script and certainly did not represent other scripts and
hence can never be called an all inclusive Konkani movement. They also
felt that the slogan ‘One Language, One Script, One Literature, One
Samaz’ was fascist and dangerous and instead of uniting Konkanis, it had
divided them in the past 70 years.
The chairperson even pointed-out that ‘the Devanagari script reinforces
a specific kind of dominance; Sanskrit – Devanagari – Aryavath – upper
caste – Sangh Parivar….’
At 1.30 that afternoon, a 10 minute long street play was presented by
the Kalaakul Theatre Repertory of Mandd Sobhann, titled ‘Strength in
Unity’. The message of the play was ‘Unity in Diversity’.
Paper V : by Ms. Barbara Roeber on ‘An International Perspective on
Scripts and Languages’.
She discussed the script issue in Europe in the context of
Serbo-Croatian and Bulgarian languages, in Africa in the context of the
Coptic, the Ethiopian, the Tamashek languages, in America in the context
of the Cherokee, the Aleutian, and the Cree languages, and in Asia
languages of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turmenistan, and Thai.
She had this to say –
(i) Languages and their scripts are to be seen against the background
of the respective region in which they are used. They are constitutive
parts of the culture and form the identity of a language community.
(ii) If a rich multiplicity of scripts for one language is – without
any linguistic reason – replaced by the monoculture (or uniformity) of
only one script, then the people will lose their culture and identity –
with all its consequences.
(iii) The entire Konkani speaking language community is, in her opinion,
a unique example of ‘one language written in 5 scripts’. This rich
variety and cultural heritage deserves to be fostered by all means,
according to the UNESCO’s ‘ICH’, i.e. the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’
Act.
Paper VI : by Dr Prathapananda Naik on ‘The Case for Multi-Scripts for
Konkani’
Here are the highlights of his audio-visual presentation –
Facts and Ground Realities :
i. The first Konkani book ‘Doutrina Christam’ was printed in 1556, in
the Roman script.
ii. Arte Da Lingua Canarim (1622) in Roman script was the first printed
grammar among the Indian languages.
iii. Historical evidence shows that from 16th century onwards in Goa,
Kannada script was widely used. Konkani prose text - ‘Flos Sanctorum’
of Amador de Santa Anna, was written in Kannada script in 1607 in Goa.
The Xerox copy of this is in the Goa University.
iv. Prior to 1961 in Goa, Konkani meant, Konkani in Roman script.
v. Latest All-India count of Konkani periodicals : Nagari -8,
Kannada-30, Roman-13, Perso-Arabic-1, Multi-script -1.
He said that though ideally speaking for any language, one script is the
best option, Konkanis have not opted for this, for many reasons. Some
of them are –
(i) Only 30.93% of total Konkani population is found in Goa. Due to
this each group has and maintains its own regional Konkani identity.
(ii) Konkanis have been writing Konkani in different scripts and in
their own dialects for a long time. Konkanis associate with their
specific dialects and scripts for their distinct cultural identity.
(iii) Konkani is not studied as a school subject by all Konkanis.
Konkani language is mainly preserved as a cultural identity.
(iv) Spoken-Konkani with various dialects unites Konkanis, but
written-Konkani brings division among them. Konkanis resent the
hegemony of any one dialect or script.
(v) One script policy has done great injustice to the users of other
popular scripts of Konkani.
He also stated that :
* Except the protagonists of Devanagari script, the users of other
scripts do not argue or insist on a single script for Konkani. Even in
Goa, Konkani written in Roman script is far more popular and widely
accepted compared to the Devanagari script.
* If in Goa, people have not accepted one script for Konkani, then
arguing for a single script for all Konkanis elsewhere will be an
utopian dream.
* If one insists with one single script for Konkani, the script will
survive, but written Konkani will disappear.
* Article 29 of the Constitution of India says, “Protection of interests
of minorities. – (1) Any section of the citizens residing in the
territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language,
script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same”.
* In a democracy one group cannot impose their preferences on others.
Language is far more important than its scripts. Language is primary.
Script is secondary.
He asserted that -
- At present for the survival of Konkani multi-scripts is the one and
only and the best option. Any other option will gradually reduce
Konkani to a mere a spoken language or eventually to a status of dead
language.
- Let various groups among Konknnis continue to use their respective
dialects and scripts with dignity as equal citizens maintaining their
identity and liberty.
Summation of the entire seminar was done by Rev. Dr John Fernandes and
Mr Anil Pinto – representing the Steering Committee.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Rodrigues drew attention to the
majoritarian politics marginalising a vast population in India where the
basic worldview was acceptance of the plural. He suggested that the
script question also needed to be careful of this tendency.
At the suggestion of Prof. Dr Anvita Abbi, General Secretary of JKS,
Eric Ozario proposed the resolution – ‘to request Sahitya Akademi to
consider all scripts of Konkani equally for awards, grants, projects and
assignments’. The Seminar passed the resolution unanimously.
The next course of action on this issue, was spelt-out, on behalf of JKS –
(i) To establish a database of information with regard to books
published, journals and periodicals, writers and readers – in each script.
(ii) To organize a Global Assembly of all parties concerned with the
script issue and bring them to one platform, to deliberate and come to
a collective decision through a democratic process.
Certificates were distributed to all the participants.
Eric Ozario
General Secretary
Jagotik Konknni Songhotton
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