Ayres Sequeira
It is a myth in the mind of some activists demanding Konkani be made the Medium of Instruction in primary schools. Their fear is, should children be taught in English, our culture and identity will be lost, children will have no love for their mother tongue. This has not happened in the past; for decades Goans have learned in English medium, became professionals, went in search of better prospects elsewhere, and now have come back to Goa. They have their culture and identity unchanged and are active in working for a better Goa to be preserved for posterity. Then why the fuss over Medium of Instruction in present time?
The MoI dispute has now become a political syndrome. The present government is held at ransom, school children are under tension and parents are worried over the future of their little ones. What is intriguing to note is the forceful demand of the members of the organization Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch to withdraw government grants to Diocesan schools and the government dilly-dallying tactics on the MoI bill.
This reminds me of 1987, said one senior villager in the midst of a discussion. The Roman script Konkani protagonists were asked not to raise the issue of script at the time of Konkani agitation. To their surprise, when the language bill was passed the then little known Devnagiri Konkani became the official language in the state. This strategy is at play again with the BJP government keeping the MoI issue in abeyance till such time it comes to power again and the decision will be reversed and grants to English medium schools will be withdrawn thereby making Konkani the Medium of Instruction forcing very particularly the DSE schools to follow suit. This is backstabbing to kill the future of our children. Parents must remain alert and watchful.
FORCE, Forum for Rights of Children to Education, is fighting for equal right in English medium for all school children. Parents must understand that English being an international language has ample scope for higher studies. It will not affect our culture and identity but give status to our children, become respectable citizens of this country and have better prospects in life. Let those who do not favor English not interfere with the right to education by enforcing the views on the unwilling parents and their children. The right of choice is each one’s freedom. It should not be denied to the people.
