Team Herald
MARGAO: In a significant development, representatives of Global Konknni Forum (GKF) and Mandd Sobhann at a joint symposium, held at Kalaangan, Mangaluru, proposed to file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Sahitya Akademi Konkani Advisory Board’s decision to declare Devanagari as the sole official script for Konkani.
The Board’s move is seen as discriminatory towards the language’s four other scripts.
The gathering also unanimously passed resolutions opposing the Sahitya Akademi's stance and demanded equal rights for Roman and Kannada scripts alongside Devanagari. Participants pledged to take all necessary actions, including legal measures, to persuade the government to include other Konkani scripts for Sahitya Awards. Additionally, the symposium addressed the need to demand equal status for the Roman script, along with Devanagari, in the Official Language Act.
A key outcome of the symposium was the formation of a new action committee, comprising members from GKF and Mandd Sobhann. The committee, led by Kennedy Afonso, includes Eric Ozario, Stanny Alvares, Luis Pinto, Richard Moras, Stephen Quadros, Donald Periera, Jose Salvador Fernandes, Aplonia Rebello, Luis Xavier Mascarenhas, Cruz Mario Periera, Michael Jude Gracias, Antonio Alvares, and Dominic Fernandes.
Eric Ozario and other Mandd Sobhan members expressed full confidence in Afonso’s leadership to drive the movement forward, pledging their full support and cooperation to take this movement to its logical conclusion.
GKF President Kennedy Afonso delivered a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the necessity for various Konkani script associations to unite against the perceived discrimination. He emphasised the importance of including the Roman script in Goa’s Official Language Act, proposing to file a petition in the Supreme Court to achieve this goal.
Pointing out the historical context of the issue, Ozario said, “It’s an accepted fact that, although Konkani is written in five languages, it has no script of its own. And despite this fact, back in 1981, the Konkani Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi passed a unanimous resolution saying that Devanagari is the official script of Konkani. If one looks at the list, it becomes very clear that it’s filled by hardcore supporters of the Devanagari Lobby.”
Endorsing the plan to challenge the same in the Supreme Court, Ozario said that the current situation is an attempt to impose Devanagari on all Konkani speakers, similar to what has been done in Goa’s Official Language Act.
He stressed that this approach is detrimental to Konkani’s unity and development, as it limits Sahitya Award eligibility to literature produced only in Devanagari, discriminating against works in other scripts.
The symposium highlighted the rich diversity within the Konkani language, encompassing various dialects, religions, castes, traditions, customs, festivals, and folk arts. Participants argued that imposing a single script amidst such diversity is counterproductive.
“Variety of Konkani is not in the script alone. There’s plenty of variety in its dialects, religions, castes, traditions, customs, festivals, and folk art. In the midst of such variety, to impose one script on everyone is utter folly,” Ozario emphasised.
They advocated for ‘unity in diversity’ as the guiding principle for both national unity and the future of the Konkani language. “Unity in diversity is the mantra of the Nation’s Unity. Unity in diversity is the future of the Konkani language,” Ozario added.
GKF disputes Environment Min’s claim that official language, Romi Script issues were resolved in 1987
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has strongly disputed Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira’s claim that the official language and Romi Script issues were resolved in 1987.
GFK president, Kennedy Afonso, challenged this assertion, highlighting several events that occurred after 1987, which indicate the issues remain unresolved.
Afonso pointed out that immediately following the supposed resolution in 1987, former MLAs Churchill Alemao and Radharao Gracias led a protest of over 500 people at the O Heraldo office. He also noted that in 1993, Gracias, tabled a bill in the Assembly to amend the Official Language Act. The establishment of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi, with the objective of demanding equal status for the Roman Script in the Official Language Act, was cited as further evidence of the ongoing controversy. Afonso also mentioned Wilson Mazarello’s formation of the Romi Lipi Action Front and subsequent legal action, as well as the passing of resolutions by over 50 gram sabhas in their respective village panchayats, as indicators that the Roman script issue remains a contentious topic.
Afonso expressed concern over Sequeira’s refusal to forward a letter to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities in Delhi and interpreted this as a prioritisation of ‘Kodel over Romi Script and his people’. This action, according to Afonso, goes against the aspirations of the people in Nuvem constituency. While Sequeira has stated he will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister, GKF remains sceptical about the outcome.
GKF is now looking at the next Assembly session as a crucial moment for Sequeira to address this issue. Alternatively, they hope for a resolution through the CM’s intervention before the session convenes.