MARGAO: Strongly espousing the cause of Konkani language, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai on Saturday asked the Goa Youth Forward not to allow the Airlines to operate at Dabolim Airport, if they don’t make in-flight announcements in Konkani.
Sardesai was addressing the gathering of people who had come to inaugurate a City Square which is named by Margao Municipal Council after his elder sister and veteran writer and linguist late Madhavi Sardesai.
Margao Municipal Council had recently taken a decision to name a square in memory of late Madhavi Sardesai.
Recalling the day when he had gone to receive his late sister at the Airport with a wheel-chair, Sardesai said that she was upset over the increased projection of Casinos and also lack of announcement in Konkani language.
“When she was brought back from Mumbai, I had gone to receive her to get her back on a wheel chair. She was upset that after arrival, the airport was full of advertisements of casinos and there was no mark of Konkani on the Airport,” he said.
“I feel that Goa Youth Forward should take up this issue. If there is no announcement in Konkani when flight lands at Goa Airport, then all these Airlines should be stopped. We should project our language first,” Sardesai said getting nostalgic about his elder sister, whom he said “was a fighter for Konkani language.”
“She was not only my sister but a fighter for Konkani language without any compromise. She has always put forth Konkani, Goemkarponn and Goem,” the minister said.
“When I became an MLA for the first time she called and asked me why I had not asked any Assembly question on the protection and propagation of konkani. She was so firm over the thought that we should take Goa forward through Konkani,” Sardesai said.
“She was an aggressive activist. She was on the forefront during Konkani agitation. Konkani should be everywhere in Goa,” he said.
Dr Suresh Amonkar addressing the gathering congratulated MMC and Vijai Sardesai for honouring late Madhavi Sardesai.
“Late Madhavi was a global citizen, we cannot differentiate as Goan, Madgaonkar or Indian,” he said. “I have been interacting with her since her childhood, and I have seen how she has been growing under the able guidance of her maternal uncle late Ravindra Kelekar,” he added.
Writer Datta Damodar Naik said that besides being a great writer she was a down to earth human being. She is still alive through her magazine ‘Jag’ which she edited.
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Angle remembered her as someone who lived by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. She had adopted the lifestyle of Gandhi and she always wore khadi throughout her life.
She was a linguist who gave the much deserved position for Konkani language. She also won the Sahitya Academy award for her book Manthan little before her demise. Angle recalled how the Late Madhavi Sardesai was never arrogant and she had a soothing personality.
