MARGAO: There is near unanimity among the Konkani protagonists that Konkani is the only official language of the State and should so remain, as they came down heavily on the resolution passed by the Goa Assembly proposing official language status to Marathi.
“If we go by language being our identity and then we consider this resolution, then my question to (Vishnu) Wagh and (Naresh) Sawal is what differentiates us from Maharashtra if both have Marathi as official language. This resolution means nothing when there is an Act in place. Konkani is and will always be our only mother tongue,” asserted former MLA Uday Bhembre.
Konkani Bhasha Mandal, also condemned the move to amend the Official Language Act. “The issue of official language was settled 30 years ago. This hasty decision on the last day of the Assembly session shows the impotency of this government. Goa comprises of the 26 percent Catholic population that does not understand Marathi at all,” KBM president Chetan Acharya said.
He added, “MLAs have done this with the elections in mind. The government has messed up the MoI issue and with this they have made a further mess of the language issue. It will affect the youth and not the Marathi group which comprises old people making this issue to fulfill their age-old aspirations. The present law gives ample protection to Marathi which it otherwise does not deserve in Goa,” Acharya said.
But there is the other group that seeks recognition to Konkani written in the Roman script. “Goa Assembly had adopted many such resolutions for amendments in the Official Language Act. If at all this happens or Official Language Act gets modified, we demand that Konkani in the Roman script should also be included,” Dalgado Konknni Akademi Secretary Vincy Quadros said.
On the politicla front, State Congress Chief Luizinho Faleiro criticised the manner in which the MLAs and the Assembly handled the ‘sensitive’ issue and questioned how the MLAs could take a decision that affects the identity of Goa without consulting Goans first.
Hinting at Sawal and Goa Forward for speaking about Goemkarponn, the Congress chief said the Act was never meant to be plural and that such a move will only create confusion. He said there are views of other sections also such as those who want Roman Konkani and that the Assembly and MLAs cannot decide for Goa like this, given how the people had fought and struggled for Konkani.
Former Congress Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that normally resolutions passed in the House are not binding on the government but reflect the mood of the House. “The language issue was settled even before I became an MLA. This resolution is raking up an unwanted issue. Konkani it is and will always be. Better to ignore these elements,” Kamat said.
Former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao, who fought for the language recalled the earlier ‘war’ and questioned why after the issue had been settled it has been raked up again. He used an analogy of paying respect to a mother and batted for recognition for Roman Konkani. He felt that through Devanagari, there has been a mess created. He stressed that this is being used to divide the people.
Goa Forward mentor and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai asked to comment on the dual stance taken by Sawal and himself, said, “It is his (Sawal) view, not the view of Goa Forward. He has the freedom to hold his view. Our views match on 99 percent issues but we may temporarily differ on one.”
He added, “We cannot rule out the fact that some Goans are making a demand for Marathi. The demand is from Goans. I have very unequivocally stated on the Floor of the House that I am of the firm view that Konkani is the identity of Goa and can be the only criterion for prioritisation of the locals. Only Konkani can guarantee the future of Goan youth and any dilution of the Official Language Act by making Marathi also the official language of Goa will lead to weakening the chances of locals when it comes to employment and also lead to increased influx into Goa. Any change of the Official Language Act would be akin to passing a resolution on merger of the State. If BJP wants to make Marathi the official language of Goa let people decide this through a referendum.”
