Konkanni will survive Long before the liberation and after Goa`s identity did not suffer pain of extinguishment ,inspite of oppressive and suppressive regime for 450 years. It is only after Goa was granted Statehood that the language script became the bone of contention. Konkanni in Mangalore and in Karnataka is written in Telugu and Tulu which is a survival platform without any support of Govt, cruches .While Goa Govt supports from General funds Primary schools in Kanada, Telgu and Marathi, The neighbouring States, specially Maharashtra besides Karnataka have a sizeable population of Konkanni speaking people, but is there the Subject of Kon available in any of the schools either with or without support of Govt funding? Goa can be proud offering primary education at the cost of our funds to display National spirit, without any iota of reciprocal gesture. The Portuguese during their 450 years never allowed Konkanni to flourish, but on the contrary suppressed and lowered its stature as the lingua of cooks, buttlers. Thanks to some writers in Roman script, the Tiatrist fraternity and the Church, who used Roman script to keep it floating and alive. The whole state of Maharashtra is there to look after promotion of its language and does not need over enthusiastic, self appointed surrogates to extend support ..True many in Goa use Marathi for their religious ceremony,in printing invitation cards, read Marathi dailies in particular, but great majority of them speak in Konkanni .The catholics earlier used Latin for similar religious ceremonies. Due to carelessness and insensitivity, political foresight, chicanery Marathi along with konkanni received official status, though till date neither of the language is used for official communication inspite of the body in existence for implementation of official language. The number of Marathi papers is sizeable not because of Goans but a large resident and floating population, On the contrary, the oldest paper Vauradeancho Ixtt is not supported by the readership subscription,Gulab, Jivit and amcho avaz propagate in Roman script., The only paper in Devanagri Kon has received decent burial, because of practical reasons and not anything else
Konkanni is a subject in many schools and graduation post graduation. PhD in Konkanni goes up to degree level. The only opening and mostly being teaching profession without any other scope to earn a living .The Konkani books find their way to private Govt Libraries, schools and sale is totally restricted to a trickle, The students who scored 90 plus marks in SSCE and received encouragement awards hardly ever buy , read books either in Kon or Roman script and hardly use it for passtime writing .So may I ask what is the purpose of this language in devanagri script in real life.? DKA is at best promoting the Roman script, but dependent on Govt largess, it should partner with Church organizations. The language issue has a become political football for Govt in office and those waiting in wings to share a piece of political cake. Voters need to be cautious about U turns both oral, written and legislative promises at the time of elections, It is divisive policy to remain in power and divide the electorate on pure communal lines,. The so called proponents and votaries of Kon and Marathi enjoy political patronage and bask in the lime light for personal glorification. But they have no control on their own sons , daughters and offspring, while prescribing to force their decadent views on other parents .The Marathi medium schools are dwindling, while Govt. is hiding the strength in each schools, boasting of totals strength vis a vis Kon medium schools. The cash dole per child is mere appeasement strategy to keep resistance at bay and to keep alive Marathi medium schools and survival of teachers. At one point of time Church schools were forced to make a switch over to Kon Medium unable to pay the staff, the Govt scales. One would be shocked at the results of proficiency test in Kon and English in primary schools .Even the poor and migrant ,at an unbearable expense enroll wards in English medium primary schools as they have visualized it as a gate way to future prospects, Govt while allocating grants does it as the contributions of all Goans, and not distributing from personal resources. Too often Unesco report of years back is still considered as the Bible of truth for grasping concepts. Many parents speak in English at home , so what is the mother tongue by definition or is it of grandparents and forefathers .?It is an illusion that so called identity, culture and traditions are only entombed in language We are constantly bombarded with changes in our life and the customs and culture are subject to change and modifications, whether be food, dress, celebrations, attitudes etc, but simply being rooted does not ensure survival of anything .Many of our citizens outside our land find bonding by resorting to our practices, but just because they are not proficient in medium of instructions does not defranchise them being Goans Let the parents decide the choice of medium what is best suited to them and as suggested by the courts The grants come from the pool of general contributions and politicians are mere arbitrators in office. Many states in India have switched over to English medium and the large pool of human resources is available in India and particularly in Goa because of English proficiency . BBSM experiment to teach BJP a lesson will be watched keenly and it will aslo learn where it lies in the minds of Goans. It is BJP that is responsible for rearing snakes in its backyard with the hope they will a threat to others,. BBSM has been assiduously cultivated for too long by BJP with ulterior motives,lending overt and covert suport and now and crying foul. It is sursprising that the election issue is MOI of the new born party, No one except SS has shown inclination and SS is non starter in Goa., The hope with threats, ultimatum to MGP that it will act as spoil sport in their constituency is ludicrous and act of desperation to woe the candidates. The BJP has not won majority with MOI as an issue that some cheer leaders assume their importance in BJP rise to power in Goa, It is the corruption, arrogance, insensitivity of Congress that has propelled them to power . The opinion poll has long settled the issue of Goenkarpon. The state of Maharashtra needs no surrogates to propell it upwards, It is well developed and in use in the state of Maharashtra .The state cannot have too languages .Some stalwarts consider themselves as indispensable and kingmakers and are now losing their exalted status in BJP. That the movement is not against the minorities is a poor comforter trying to assuage the feeling of alienation, if any, becuase BBSM is demanding stoppage of grants to Schools of the minority. It is different matter that marathi medium schools are closing with increasing frequency inspite of the sops and prop ups by the BJP Govt to keep them in good humour BBSM is sure to bite the dust and all the decadent Kingmakers will be trhown in the dust bin of History, Not everyone is in tune with their MOI stance, dividing the Goans on language issue. The parents are determined to exert their choice of medium which is their right as emphasised by the Courts The self appointed leaders cannot impress their own sons and daughters about their noble values of MOI, why do they they want to force their views on the rest of the parents, who have not authorised them on their behalf, Even the poorest of poor have realised that English will help them in vertical climb and that the denial is only to keep them as bonded society nelson Lopes Chinchinim