In response to the article written by Samrudhi Gaurish Kudchadkar ‘MoI: May better sense prevail on Goan parents’ (Herald 21 August), and to all those trying to make parents of Goa forcefully swallow the regional language MoI rule, here is my two bit piece of advice. DON’T!
You have rightly pointed out that receiving education in one’s mother tongue, never deters anyone from achieving higher goals in life. But what about that section of society who are not so intellectually inclined? What about those who manage to just achieve a pass mark, instead of topping the merit list?
Are you going to act like a Good Samaritan and provide job placements to all? Are you going to be the one to secure the future of the child of the cobbler, snack vendor and/or truck driver? And to correct the statement made, that English is only a foreign language, which is definitely off the mark.
English is the most widely spoken foreign language. Full stop. Today we Goans are building state-of-the-art automated lockers. Indians are leading multinational companies in India and abroad. Don’t you feel it would help to have a command over the English language?
A child’s personality and self confidence is something which has to be nurtured and built up gradually at home. Does making Konkani compulsory as a MoI instill better values? Do explain if so.
We are not enforcing English as a MoI for all, so you are free to send your children to whichever schools you may like. But do not enforce the reverse upon those who feel otherwise.
Please do not try to justify such pre-historic terms on the minds of the future. Give our children a chance to conquer the world.
