Recently,
a few young budding poets along with the members of Dalgado Konknni Akademi
(DKA) came together in Canacona for a Poet’s Meet titled ‘Obeas Yatra’ on March
21, 2015 at Chaudi in Canacona. The event received participation from about 21
poets from Canacona taluka. While speaking at the event, Premanand Lotlikar,
President of the DKA, expressed the need to reach to the villages for the
benefit of young, talented poets.
Lotlikar
further said, “It is a very fortunate thing that Konkani is written in two
different scripts – Devnagri and Romi Konknni in our state. DKA mainly aims at
promoting Konkani in the Roman script but it is not against development of
Konkani in Devnagri. Konkani has kept Goans united for the past so many years.
To promote this language, we do a lot of activities in villages like reading
competitions, poetry competitions, etc. The reason why we have been able to
continue our work for the development of Konkani is purely because of the
people who have come together owing to their love for this language.”
Konkani
Bhasha Mandal (KBA) is another group that has been working towards the
development of Konkani. It has brought together youth from different parts of
the state and from all walks of life. Surel Tilve, an advocate by profession
and a member of Konkani Bhasha Mandal, says, “It is Konkani language itself
that keeps us united. It helps us to maintain our identity as ‘Goenkar’. We, as
members of KBA, make it a point to meet at least once a month to discuss about
things that need to be accomplished for Konkani. We regularly meet on
Saturdays, but that is not compulsory. We plan protests, submit memorandums,
organise workshops and seminars, etc. Recently, we held a series of Devnagri
typing workshops. We plan most of our meetings at one of the members’ residence
so that our parents know what we are doing and can also get involved in our
activities.”
Anwesha
Singbal, former secretary of KBA, says, “I think for many like us, Konkani is
not just language but identity. And hence speaking in Konkani and working for
the language comes very naturally to us, unlike those who feel that English is
the ‘in’ thing. Being part of several organisations that work for Konkani,
doing something for the language, is now a habit rather than a compulsion. Till
date, my friends and I have done several experiments to promote Konkani on the
social media and today, several greetings, wishes and viral messages are being
circulated in Konkani instead of English or Marathi. Konkani is certainly the
uniting force for several youth today, otherwise we wouldn’t have seen
thousands of youth waiting anxiously for Goa Yuva Mahotsav that sees them
unfurling Goan culture and the love for Konkani.”
