Cipriano Lopes from Chinchinim, Salcete, Goa, belonged to a rare breed of Goans who felt a natural obligation to do good to Goa and Goans and he went on doing just that.
He felt hurt seeing the rampant destruction of the Goan environment and did all in his capacity to create awareness against such destruction. He felt hurt at the rampant destruction of Goan social values in the name of “Tourism Development” and he did all in his capacity to restore these social values.
He resented the passage of the malicious Official Language Act of Goa (1987) for he knew that under the pretext of uniting Goa all that it did was to divide Goa on communal lines.
That was one major reason why Cipriano Lopes became a founder member and a committed soldier of the “Romi Lipi Action Front “.
He knew from sources within the Government of Goa that the Official Language Act of Goa (1987) was framed by a group of sadists who through this Bill , wanted to suppress the entire Goan community that was responsible for preserving and developing the Konkani language in the Roman Script.
He strongly believed that this Official Language Bill in its present form was a blot on democracy and only amending it to include the Roman Script with the same status as the Devnagari Script could bring back the unity that prevailed among Goans, prior to the passing of this Bill.
Cipriano Lopes worked silently but tirelessly towards achieving this objective.
The Romi Lipi Action Front, of which Cipriano Lopes was the Vice-President for several years, is resolved to carry forward this struggle till the Roman Script gets its due recognition in the Official language Act of Goa.
We salute our departed silent warrior Cipriano Lopes.
