The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 has made Konkani the official language of Goa. Yet, when we ponder for a while we shed bitter tears over the status of this language in our own territory! Whereas in any other part of our country people are willing to give their lives for the regional language, here in Goa we seem to be determined to ensure its quiet yet speedy burial.
With the switching over of the 127 primary schools run by the Church-affiliated bodies to the English medium from the Konkani language a death knell is rung for primary education in the Konkani language. A latest statistics reveals that the enrolment of students in Konkani has been sharply dwindling in government primary schools. It is a great tragedy that the only Konkani daily Sunaparant has closed down giving a clear indication that there would be no Konkani readers in future.
What is the message for this state as far as the official language is concerned. Whether we like it or not, the government’s decision to extend grants to the 127 schools which had switched over from Konkani to English medium at the primary level, bowing at the pressure of the Catholic community, is the cause of this heartbreak. And now being ensured that ‘might is right’ the same community heeding at the tacit call given by its leaders is engrossed in pressure tactics of engaging in relay hunger strike .
It is unfortunate that despite all the revelations that primary education in the regional language is the best for the academic growth of a child, nothing seems to convince the indoctrinated minds. I would not hesitate to repeat that the child remains rooted with the culture of the state, and regional language is its primary determinant, only when the child makes a beginning with this language.
And then we have ill-informed people clamouring that English is the global language and that our children would be lost without English. This is a misnomer for no one is preventing the child from seeking secondary education in the English language, which is open to all. That apart it is equally important to note that a number of countries like France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan and so on, which are world powers are dependent on their own language and not English. Who will imbibe these things in our misguided parents?
As demanded by Konkani protagonists, including many legislators, the government should not fall prey to the gimmicks of one community. We want good primary education for our children, which can be imparted in the regional languages and not in English alone.
