PANJIM: Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai will, in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, release the book ‘The Battle for Konkani and Statehood of Goa’ on Friday, September 22, at Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula.
The book, from the authorship of former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, has been published by Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes Memorial Trust. Speaking about the book, Faleiro said, “When I thought of writing this book, I was assailed by the same thoughts which were haunting me way back in 1980 before launching the fight for Konkani and Statehood. I was elected in 1980 and the most popular and powerful government in the State was Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) which was democratically elected by the people four times after the liberation in Goa since1961. The party’s popular objective was Marathi is the language of Goa and therefore Goa is a part of Maharashtra and therefore should be merged with Maharashtra.”
“As a young MLA in 1980 the most difficult question was why should I hurt the sentiments of the people of Goa and the MLAs who strongly supported Marathi and merger of Goa with Maharashtra? After much soul searching it was the inner power of conviction that gave me the courage to move the resolutions and bills on Konkani and Statehood in and out of the Legislative Assembly which is all about this book. Even today after nearly 40 years, I am haunted by the same thoughts. How much should I disclose without hurting old friends? But history has to be corroborated with the records”, Faleiro added.
In the 18 chapters, plus a preface that details what to expect when reading the book, Faleiro, takes the reader through the history of that time as he recalls how this was a people’s movement that could not be stopped until the Goans got what they wanted which was Official Language status for Konkani and Statehood for Goa.
Written in the first person, the book consists of his reminiscences and recollections of a period of Goa’s history, substantiated by newspaper reports and Legislative Assembly debate records that stand out for being the most significant movement in Goa that was waged to protect the land and the people’s identity and safeguard the language for future generations.
