She plays with a straight bat, makes light of the gender feather in her cap and sets the record straight A lot has been written about me being the first woman president of Konkani Bhasha Mandal. However, I would love to make a point that I am the president not because of my gender but my capabilities and the trust that others have bestowed on me as a young crusader of Konkani. I may only be the face but there is a huge dedicated young force that will always stand strong for our Konkani language.
Many readers of Herald, especially Konkani lovers would have heard of this very young Konkani crusader, like a breath of fresh air among language protagonists but as ahead of the Kokani Bhasha Mandal, she carries a big weight on young shoulders
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“The idea is to reach Konkani to students, teachers, Konkani language enthusiast, journalist and writers all across Goa. We are focused to create content in Konkani for online users. Educational blogs have been created to aid the Konkani teachers from primary to higher secondary levels. All Konkani lessons are converted into visual form like videos and circulated across Goa for the use of students. Workshops are being planned in creative literature, children’s literature, grammar, typing in Konkani using various software’s and translation of literary works. Major activities of Konkani Bhasha Mandal such as the Shenoi Goembab Kathamal may also have to be carried out online which are in the planning phase”
The new young president also busts a few myths like youngsters these days do not read and speak Konkani. “Konkani is widely spoken and written by youngsters. Youngsters know newer mediums and have started to create content using these mediums. Several videos, blogs are constantly created in Konkani. Social media too is efficiently used. So the mediums may have changed but youth continue to embrace Konkani” she said, batting smoothly for GenX.
She touches upon another sensitive topic, that Romi and Devnagiri scriptwriters are not united. “It’s again a myth that they are not united. People with selfish interests may not be united or often fall apart but those who love the language and want to see its progress would always work together. KBM has always done so and will continue to”
It will be fair to say that the language runs in her blood. Her father Arun Singbal was a part of the Konkani language movement and a passionate writer whom she has always seen as her hero. She, unfortunately, lost him early. “My mother Deepa Singbal has always encouraged me to write and is a writer herself. I recall how she always helped me improve upon my written work in my childhood. So I owe it all to my parents obviously”, she said
The Konkani Bhasha Mandal is her second home. She was a part of Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Shenoi Goembab Kathamal (storytelling competition) since 2008-09. Then, she was actively engaged in the Goa Yuva Mahotsav since 2008-09 after which she has been in the committee. “I was the secretary for the 2012 term and later part of ex-committee for two subsequent terms before being the President”, she signs off confidently.
