Team Herald
MARGAO: In its ongoing fight to reverse the injustice meted out to Konknni in Roman Script under the Official Language Act (OLA), the Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has outlined plans to continue its work, furthering the movement for the recognition of Roman script.
In a recent meeting, the Forum announced the formation of various committees to further its objectives and provide momentum to the ongoing script
movement.
The newly formed committees include a Literary Committee, headed by Jasmine Rodrigues, a Cultural Committee led by Luis Xavier Mascarenhas (Xavier de Maina), a Membership Drive Committee led by Cruz Mario Pereira, an Overseas Representatives Committee led by Domnic Fernandes, and a Legal Affairs Committee under the leadership of Forum President Antonio Alvares.
With the New Education Policy (NEP) in mind, the Literary Committee will focus on developing much-needed academic learning materials in Konknni Roman script, to be introduced in schools starting from the first standard. The committee will also take steps to promote different literary genres in Roman script, along with other linguistic works.
Understanding that language and culture are intertwined, the Cultural Committee will organise cultural programs in villages to raise awareness and garner support for the cause of Konknni in Roman script. These initiatives will also aim to protect and promote Goa’s rich cultural heritage, as explained by Jose Salvador Fernandes, Secretary of the GKF.
The Membership Drive Committee will focus on strengthening the Konknni movement by enrolling members both in Goa and among Goans living in neighbouring states, especially those who are passionate about the cause of the Roman script.
To ensure the movement goes global, the Overseas Representatives Committee will recruit individuals from the Goan diaspora around the world,
creating a network of committed and dedicated people under the GKF
banner.
The issue stems from the Official Language Act of 1987, which designated Devanagari as the official script of Konknni, deliberately excluding Roman script due to a conspiracy by Nagari proponents.