Team Herald
MARGAO: Representing the collective voice of Konkani language enthusiasts, Global Konknni Forum (GKF) and Mandd Sobhann-Mangaluru have decided to boycott all programmes and functions organised by the Sahitya Akademi.
Both associations have taken this major decision until the Sahitya Akademi does not respect Roman and Kannada script and accord equal status to other scripts of Konkani along with Devanagari.
These associations have now decided to also boycott the All India Konkani Parishad scheduled at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on October 26 and 27. They have also appealed to all Konkani speaking enthusiasts, writers, script associations, and students, to boycott the same.
They will also hold a silent and peaceful dharna, outside Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on October 26 from 8.30 am to 10 am followed by an open mike session at Lohia Maidan, Margao.
Kennedy Afonso, Convenor, All Konknni Script Committee, said, “The Sahitya Akademi’s continued recognition to only Devanagari script for Konkani language, while disregarding four other Konknni scripts, notably Roman Script, Kannada, Malayalam and Perso-Arabic, constitutes discrimination against a significant section of Konknni speakers and writers, and this goes against our fundamental rights.”
“We demand equal recognition and representation for all scripts as enshrined in Article 14 and Article 29 (1) of the Indian Constitution. The Sahitya Akademi must do away with the Discriminatory “One Language, One Script Policy” as multiple scripts reflect the rich Linguistic and Cultural diversity of Konkani. Each script has its own history and has made significant contributions to Konknni literature,” he stated.
He further claimed that Prior to 1981, the Sahitya Akademi did not have any Official script of Konkani. It was only in the year 1981, that the Devanagari protagonist infiltrated the Konkani Advisory Board, and passed a unanimous decision to nominate Devanagari as the Official script of Konkani.
Delegations from Mandd Sobhann, and Karnataka Konkani Lekhak Sangh, Mangaluru, are also likely to visit Goa to take part in the silent dharna/and open mike session, informed Afonso.