PANJIM: It is 38 years since Konkani was declared as the official language of Goa. What have the successive Congress, PDF and BJP governments and people done to preserve and protect the language. On the eve the historic day, 4th February, when the Goa Daman and Diu Assembly passed the historic bill to make Konkani the official language of Goa we asked opinion makers. Has Konkani as an official language been protected by Goa and Goans?
In the last 38 years Konkani has not got the justice from government as it deserves. Not from any government. In a democracy government is by the people of the people and for the people. Because it has to work according to the wishes of the people, the people’s language is made the official language. It has happened in all the states. The government should ensure that there should be maximum use of the language. Here there is nothing in the hands of the public, but everything is in the hands of the government. There is no speed in the implementation of the language, even as other states use it in administration and even in courts.
Uday Bhembre, Sahitya Akademi Award Winner
After getting Statehood on the basis of language, we have forgotten about Konkani. We have cultural ties with Konkani, due to the language we have identity as Goenkars. It is the foundation of our unity. That the language should be promoted is the right of every Goan. The Goa government has now made it mandatory that knowledge of Konkani is compulsory. Why is this necessary? We cannot discriminate anyone from India getting a job in Goa as per the Supreme Court judgement, but language can be used as a means to protect our livelihoods with jobs.
Anant Agni, Author and Activist
To ensure widespread use of the Konkani language in administration, all the government servants will have to be taught Devanagari typing. Only then will there be widespread use of the language. The Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the All India Konkani Parishad will help the government in this. A circular will have to go to all government departments that they should put file notings in Konkani. Only then can there be widespread use of Konkani as a language.
Chetan Acharya, Working President, All India Konkani Parishad
With the passing of the Official Langauge Bill, the inclusion of Konkani in the Eight Schedule and recognition by Sahitya Academy the interests of Konkani is well protected. But whether Goans have protected Konkani is a big question mark. After the Official Language Bill was passed, there is only one Konkani newspaper. However, surprisingly there are six Marathi papers, which have quite a good circulation. Who is responsible for this? Though we, I, proclaim that Konkani is my mother tongue, how much do I use it? How many people correspond with the government in Konkani? Goans have gone to hibernate after it was passed as official language and it is not being used.
Trajano D’Mello, Political Commentator
If Konkani as Official Language has to be protected and saved, we have to understand that Goa itself is diverse. All communities live in Goa as one. If Konkani is to be saved, its dialects and scripts –Devanagari and Romi have to be incorporated. Those who are supporting only Devanagari have destroyed our language. I don’t understand what hassles and allergy they have for Romi. If Konkani has to flourish, it will flourish only and only with Romi Lipi.
Anthony D’Silva, Konkani Lover