In 1988, when injustice was done to those who read Konkani in the Roman script, the
lovers of the language decided to establish an association. The Dalgado Konknni
Akademi (DKA) was setup and Fr Freddy J Da Costa became the first president.
Under his leadership, he united all the Konkani writers in the Roman script and
worked towards the growth of the language. July 20, 2019 marks the 66th birth
anniversary of Fr Freddy J Da Costa, which will be celebrated by DKA with a
memorial talk, followed by a cultural programme at Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG)
Conference hall, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panjim, at 4pm.
Fr Pratap Naik, Tomazinho Cardozo,
Prabhakar Tendulkar and several like minded Konkani lovers worked with Fr
Freddy to attain his objective of giving justice to the Roman script in
Konkani. Over the years, the objective has been achieved with various literary
activities being organised at the grassroots level.
With regard to celebrating the founder’s
birth anniversary annually, DKA president Tomazinho Cardozo says that DKA
celebrates this day every year in order to sustain his memory and his efforts
towards Roman Konkani for future generation. “His immense contribution towards
Konkani literature, tiatr and Goan culture cannot be ignored,” he adds.
“The existence and growth of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi in the
field of literature today is precisely on account of Fr Freddy’s bold
initiative. Had he and some likeminded writers not come together to work out a
strategy, there would have been no academy to work for the cause of Roman
Konkani and its growth would have been hampered,” Cardozo says.
The immediate ex-president of DKA, Premanand Lotlikar, says the
establishment of the academy came about when the Official Language Act was passed.
“And Fr Freddy must have foreseen the threat to Roman Konkani as it was
sidelined, with more preference given to the Devanagri script,” he says.
“To keep Roman Konkani alive and flourishing among the Goan
community members, Fr Freddy and his colleagues must have decided to establish
the academy,” Lotlikar says, adding, “Our founder’s initiative then is an
inspiration to all the writers today in order to work for the cause of Roman
Konkani tirelessly.”
“Remembering the founder of DKA on his birth anniversary is a
befitting tribute to a man who worked for the cause of Roman Konkani with no
selfish interests,” Lotlikar states. “And his vision, mission and aspirations
need to be fulfilled by all the Roman Konkani writers today and in the near
future,” he asserts.
He goes on to say, “Without an academy that works for the cause
of Roman Konkani, perhaps Roman Konkani would have encountered a slow death.
Through various publications and literary activities carried out by DKA today,
Roman Konkani is slowly winning its stance and the place it rightly deserves.”
Fr
Cipriano Da Silva, the dean of Panjim deanery and parish priest of Taleigao
church, will be the main speaker for the event. DKA appeals to all Konkani
lovers and niz Goans to attend the function in large numbers.
