PANJIM, FEB 4
Ex-Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who is credited with introducing the official language bill, appealed for unity among Konkaniwadis keeping aside their script differences to keep Goans united and save their culture.
Faleiro was speaking at the State Official Language Day celebration at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall, here, on Wednesday.
Giving the example of Mizoram where language was the uniting factor, the ex-minister said in Goa the language issue had caused disunity and the same had to be done away with to save the State’s identity and culture.
Faleiro said there was a need to use Konkani in the day-to-day business. He mentioned as industries minister he had formulated a law whereby those registering at the employment exchange for jobs should have compulsory knowledge of Konkani.
‘People are aware of the fact but at the same time they are confused. Even the various agitations over projects are interlinked to the non-use of official language in Goa,’ he remarked.
Faleiro maintained that he had said Devnagri was the natural script for Konkani and the script could not be changed.
Prominent writer Adv Uday Bhembre maintained 22 years had passed ever since Konkani was granted official status but its implementation in the day-to-day affairs was nowhere in sight.
Bhembre recalled history and saluted those who laid down their lives for fighting to grant official status to Konkani.
Bhembre lambasted legislatures who converse in English in the Legislative Assembly defeating the very purpose of fighting for official status to Konkani.
Freedom fighter and strong proponent of Konkani, Nagesh Karmali said Goa was still going through a colonial hangover.
He said Goa was no different from Nagaland that has many tribal languages which has forced it to use English as its official language.
