The Evangelist who loves the Konkani language

School children from over 30 Salcete schools congregated in the multipurpose hall at the District Library in Navelim to recite poems and songs in Konkani to mark eminent literateur, late Manohar Rai Sardesai’s 10th death anniversary.

The tiny tots were in their elements and recited Sardesai’s many ditties with gay abandon. They did so across the 12 government libraries across the state. Coordinating all this was the ever smiling and jovial Ratnamala Divkar, Margao-based school teacher, author of children’s books in Konkani and key member of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM).

Ratnamala was all over the hall. One moment, she was praising a painting made by a school child. Later she was seen applauding the recitation of a five-year-old or simply making an announcement on the mike. But her energy and joi de vivre clearly suggested her passion for the Konkani language and its propagation.

In an announcement made in Konkani to the teachers and parents present on the occasion, she said, “We hope to have many more such programmes where children will come and recite poems and songs. There will be no competition. The KBM will continue to provide children with books and music CDs. Please do not grudge the children this joy of reading and listening!”

Speaking to the Herald after the function, Ratnamala attributed her love for Konkani to the programme, Khalar ani Malar that she regularly listened to on the All India Radio as a school girl. “This programme, which had songs and poems by many Goan stalwarts, got us hooked to the beauty of the language,” Ratnamala said.

If the radio programme was a beginning, the students’ movement of the early 1980s to make Konkani the official language of the state had her truly hooked. “Yes, those were heady days. We took part in rallies and morchas, sang songs and performed street plays in Konkani,” Ratnamala said and admitted that this indeed laid the foundation for her mission in life.

Today, Ratnamala, who teaches Konkani and History to the higher secondary students of Holy Rosary Convent School, Nuvem, said that she was constantly examining ways and means to increase the engagement of students with Konkani.

Here, her role as key committee member of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal was crucial. According to her, the KBM had about 100 key members and over 2,000 volunteers in the state who were committed to keeping the language alive and ticking.

Ratnamala credited the advice received from the renowned musicologist, the Late Bhaskar Chandavarkar as invaluable. She said, “It was Bhaskarji who told us to use the medium of songs and music to promote Konkani among school children. The KBM took this strategy to heart and is beginning to see the rewards of the work.”

According to Ratnamala, the KBM’s annual ‘Petul’ (treasure trove) function held at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao is an indication of the interest Konkani is generating across schools in the state. “While the KBM always releases new children’s books and music CDs on the occasion, it is a joy to see school children in the age group of 5-14 compere the show, sing songs and enact short skits in Konkani,” Ratnamala said.

Of course challenges abound. The KBM may have produced many music CDs and children’s books in Konkani, but dissemination of the same to the farthest schools is a challenge. “We are constantly scouting for competent people. However, despite offering decent salaries and a commission on sales, we still do not have an effective team,” Ratnamala said.

Ever the busybody, Ratnamala has not been shy of collaborations. Given her penchant for writing and reading, she has been actively collaborating with other Indian language drivers like Pratham, Katha and Eklavya all year round. In fact, a group of writers from Bhopal are scheduled to come to Goa in July end for a collaborative workshop. “We look forward to these workshops, as it allows us to think out of the box,” said Ratnamala.

Ratnamala is serious about collaborations. She has translated children’s literature from other Indian languages into Konkani. “You have to keep learning,” she said simply.

And if that is not all, Ratnamala also takes up women’s rights issues through the KBM. “We organise symposiums and discussions in the state on various women’s issues like personal health, gender issues, women’s reservations in politics, etc,” said the tireless Konkani evangelist.