By Capt Eddie Viegas
As a matter of an occupational hazard, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to numerous countries of the world and interact with people from various nationalities during the course of the last fifty years of so. During such interactions, it has always been a proud moment to hear on numerous occasions, remarks such as, “You Indian guys speak very good English. India has progressed because of your command over English.”
In fact the word of regret has always been from our own people who are intelligent but did not have the opportunity to have a good foundation in the English language in their younger days. They have often expressed their view that they missed several opportunities as their command over English has not been up to the mark.
No doubt there will always be few exceptions, who will cope with the difficulties and match up with the best but by and large a lot of youngsters simply shy away and give up when they change over from the primary level of vernacular to the Secondary level of the English language as the MOI.
It appears that it has been the Modus Operandi of the Politicians who often send their own children to the best of schools and even abroad, to tell the general populace that Mother tongue is the best medium of Instruction. In the bargain those who can afford or some of the underprivileged at a great sacrifice are forced to send their children to English schools right from the start while the poorer sections are forced to send their wards to local language schools.
In this imbroglio of the MOI the politicians should remember that Mother Tongue is something that comes naturally irrespective of the fact whether you study it or not. In fact if one looks at the various authors, actors, musicians, etc that we have had in Goa right from the days of the Portuguese, none of them ever studied in any Konkani schools.
The recent remarks of some of the politicians compel me to point out that the Church has played a major role throughout the last few centuries to keep Konkani alive by way of church services, Konkani music, theatre and other youth activities not only in Goa but even abroad.
Pointing a finger at the Church which has actually been imparting quality service in the field of education to a greater percentage of Non Christians than Christians themselves is not only an act of UNGRATEFULNESS but also a hollow attempt to find a scape-goat for the failure of those politicians and others in the Government to come to a solution which will provide an equal opportunity to all our children and maintain peace and harmony among our people.
Let the Government give an equal opportunity to all our children irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or language. The people will decide what is best for them.
(Capt Eddie Viegas is a former captain of ocean going ships and Advisory Council Member at MES College, Vasco)
