Kannada script to be used for Konkani textbooks in schools

# General body meeting endorses decision
# Choice of dialect left to linguists
# Seven-member committee to be set up to prepare textbooks
# Committee to meet in Bangalore on June 16

MANGALORE: The general body of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, which met here on Monday, decided to adopt the Kannada script for Konkani taught as an optional language from the sixth standard onwards. It has left the choice of dialect to linguists, according to the consensus arrived at after the academy contacted a number of people for their opinion.

The move to decide on the script and dialect for Konkani textbooks gained momentum after Eric Ozario took over as chairman of the academy.

In all, 121 representatives, including one representative each from Konkani associations, institutions and Konkani newspapers, all past and present members of the academy as well as winners of awards instituted by it were sounded out for their opinion on the issue. A meeting of these 121 representatives was convened here on May 15.

In order to make the process more broad-based, the academy sent out mailers to those who did not attend the May 15 meeting to seek their opinion. Sixty-seven people responded. Of these, 44 opted for the Kannada script, 19 for the Devanagari script, two for the Roman script and two were not clear about their choice.

This view on the script was ratified at the general body meeting here, Mr. Ozario told presspersons later. Noting that 65.67 percent of the respondents had opted for the Kannada script, he said only 28.36 percent had opted for the Devanagari script, 2.98 percent for the Roman script and 2.98 per cent were undecided.

Stating that the choice of dialect to be used in preparing textbook has been left to linguists, he said a 20-member committee has been set up for the purpose, and it will meet on June 11. A seven-member expert committee will be set up on the directions of Department of State Educational Research and Training after the June 11 meeting to prepare the textbooks.

The first meeting of the textbook committee will be held in Bangalore on June 16, he said.