MARGAO: Condemning the statements by a group of Marathi supporters, who claimed that Konkani is merely a dialect of the Marathi language, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) warned that it will no longer tolerate any insults or denigration of the Konkani language.
Emphasising that Konkani is a distinct language with its own identity and heritage, KBM claimed that politics is being played in Goa under the guise of the script issue.
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KBM accused the political entities of using the script debate to create divisions among the Konkani-speaking community.
Addressing a press conference in Margao, Ratnamala Divkar, Acting President of KBM, along with Mangaldas Bhat, Secretary of KBM, Maya Kharangate, Joint-Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad, and Hrishikesh Kadam, Member of the Executive Committee of KBM, expressed strong condemnation.
Divkar emphasised that KBM will not tolerate any insults directed at the Konkani language.
Divkar said, “It is very sad that a group of Marathi supporters continues to defame and insult the Konkani language by stating that Konkani is not a State language, despite Konkani having been recognised and included in the 8th Schedule.”
She also warned the people insulting the Konkani language.
However, reacting to the demands for equal status for the Romi script, Hrishikesh Kadam, said that in Goa, Romi script already got the equal status.
“In the field of literature, there is no division among the Konkani people regarding the script. Deliberate attempts are being made to divide the Konkani community in the name of the script,” he said, adding that the children from the Catholic community are excelling even at higher educational levels.
“Yes, we are completely opposed to introducing the Roman script into the educational field, as it will undoubtedly create divisions among students based on their community. The language issue was resolved long ago,” he added.
According to KBM, passing resolutions demanding equal status for the Romi script at the gram sabha is nonsensical.
KBM claimed that it had never discriminated based on script and asserted that, in the broader interest, no one should attempt to alter the Official Language Act. The script for the Konkani language had been decided with careful consideration of all aspects of the language and the Konkani community.
Global Konknni Forum terms CM’s remark on Romi Script as false, misleading
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has issued a strong reply to the statement made by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who had said Roman Script cannot be taught in schools as there is no recommendation from the Goa Advisory Committee of the Official Language Cell (GACOLC).
GKF on Wednesday claimed that this statement of the CM is false and misleading. “Because for the last 5 years and more, there is no one appointed on the Advisory Committee. No meetings have been held for the past five years. This is evident from the reply given by the government to MLA Cruz Silva in LAQ No. 048 dated 16/07/24,” said GKF president Kennedy Afonso.
“GKF would like to tell the CM, that even if the Advisory Committee was appointed, they will never recommend Roman Script to be taught in schools, cause the government mostly appoints hardcore Devanagari supporters, who are afraid Romi will flourish, if introduced in schools,” Afonso added.
“The reason why GKF is demanding equal status for Roman Script, the main purpose is for Roman Script to be taught in schools. This is vital, if Roman Script is to survive in the near future, and while the fight equal Status for Romi, will always go on, we request the CM Pramod Sawant to take steps to introduce Romi in schools from the Class I to X in a phased manner, starting next year,” said Afonso.
“In the past the GACOLC was appointed with hardcore Devanagari supporters, with no equal representation to Romi supporters. How will these hardcore Devanagari supporters recommend that Roman script should be taught in schools, as their whole intentions are to choke the Roman Script?” Afonso added.
“The CM must understand that, the Devnagari lobby, is the real enemy, which planned, strategised, and connived, to deny Roman Script, its rightful place in the Official Language Act 1987. Although there were Catholic leaders in the Konkani Porjecho Awaz (KPA), which led the movement during the Konkani agitation, most of its top leaders like Ravindra Kelekar, Udhay Bhembre, Manohar Sardesai, Mauzo, R V Pandit, were from the majority Hindu community. These Hindu leaders were also on the board of government Advisory Committee for Konknni Language from 1973 to 1983,” said Afonso.
Six years before the Konkani agitation took place, this committee had already passed a unanimous decision, recommending Devnagari as the only official script of Konkani language. These KPA leaders from the majority community, kept the minority community leaders of KPA and the people who supported the movement in the dark about their real intentions and motives, and used the Catholic masses to push the movement forward,” said Afonso.
“It’s a known fact, that 95% of attendance for all public meetings were from the Catholic minorities, who voluntarily attended these meetings, with the hope of seeing Devanagari and Roman Script as the official script of Konkani language,” Afonso added.
“The minority community leaders did not realise that these members of the Advisory Committee of Konkani language had infiltrated or formed the KPA, with the intention to make Devanagari as the sole official language of Goa. If the Devanagari leaders want Devnagari to stay as the only official script of Konkani, the least they could do was recommend to the government that Roman script should be taught in schools, from Class I to X, starting next year. This would have at least pacified the Romi lobby,” said Afonso.
