12 Dec 2018  |   05:55am IST

Preserving Konkani in Roman script

Dalgado Konknni Akademi recently presented Dalgado Puroskar 2018 in a ceremony that reflected the value of Konkani in Roman script and honoured the contributors and promoters of the script and language

Team Café

While addressing those gathered at the Dalgado

Awards 2018 function that was held at the Multipurpose Hall of Directorate of Art & Culture, Patto Plaza, Panjim earlier this month, Rev Fr Peter Cardozo, Director of Pilar Music Academy, recalled that when Pope Joao Paul II had visited Goa he had spoken in Konkani. Those words were actually written down in Roman script and given to him. Commenting on this, the Pope had said: “Of all the scripts of different languages in the world, Roman script is the easiest to read.” Fr Peter also related that when former Archbishop Dom Jose Alvernaz had to speak few words in a South Indian language, he did it easily by reading the words in Roman script. “Therefore we need to preserve, promote and develop Konkani in Roman script,” surmised Fr Peter.

He added that we Goans should speak in Konkani and conduct all our activities in Konkani in our day-to-day lives. Such an attitude of the people will strengthen the foundation of Konkani language and we shall preserve it for our future generations. He also praised the efforts of Dalgado Konknni Akademi for promoting Konkani in Roman script.

He presented the Dalgado Puroskar 2018 to seven individuals who have contributed to Konkani in Romanscript in different fields. The recipients of awards wereAshok R Chodankar winning the Dalgado Sahityk Puroskar; Fr Jose Antonio da Costa winning the Dalgado Konknni Seva Puroskar; Fr Santana Carvalho winning Dalgado Sonskrutik Puroskar; Kanta K Gaude winning the Joel De Souza Daiz Puroskar; Anthony Correia Pienkar winning the Fr Freddy J Da Costa Potrkarita Puroskar; Konkani Kala Kendr Merces winning the Dalgado Sonstha Puroskar; and Fr Myron Jeson Barreto winning the Dalgado Tornatto Puroskar. On behalf of all the awardees, Ashok R Chodankar thanked DKA for recognising their services in promoting Konkani literature and culture.

Tomazinho Cardozo, DKA President, in his address, congratulated the award winners of Dalgado Puroskar 2018 and said “If such dedicated personalities were present in all parts of Goa, Konkani literature and culture would have prospered many fold.”

Vice President of DKA, Fr Conceicao D’Silva gave the welcome address; DKA Treasurer, Celso Fernandes introduced the Chief Guest to the audience and Vassalo Carvalho, Sonia Gomes, Mathew D’Costa. Irene Cardozo, Afonso Braganza, Violet D’Souza and Mathew D’Souza read the citations presented to the awardees.

A short cultural programme was presented by Johny B Good, Violet D’Souza, Jenifer D’Souza and Cipriano D’Souza. The function ended with singing of the National Anthem.