Mangalore: Script row hots up; Konkani association plumps for Nagari

Sahitya Akademi recognises Konkani in Nagari script as independent language

Konkani textbooks with Kannada and Nagari scripts used in 60-odd schools

Language finds a place in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution

Attempts on to prepare a standard textbook in Konkani

MANGALORE: The Karnataka State Konkani Linguistic Minority Educational Institutions' Association has rejected an initiative by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy to bring out textbooks for students desiring to study Konkani as an optional subject in schools in Karnataka from sixth standard, in Kannada. It has demanded that Nagari script be used in official textbooks.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, secretary of the association, K. Mohan Pai, said the association is using textbooks with Kannada and Nagari scripts in 60-odd schools administered by it in Karnataka for students studying in first to fifth standards. While this is an initiative of the association, official textbooks should confirm to constitutional norms, he said.

Noting that Article 29 (1) of the Constitution allows any section of citizens residing in India or any part thereof, having a distinct language, script or culture of its own to conserve it, he said in case of Konkani, Nagari has assumed status of distinct script for various reasons. The Kendra Sahitya Akademi has recognised Konkani in Nagari script as an independent language, he said.

Konkani written in Nagari script is official language of Goa, he said and added Konkani finds a place in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Noting that Nagari is the constitutionally recognised script of Konkani, he said this perhaps explains why Konkani in Nagari script is used on Indian currency notes to indicate their denominations.

Stating that attempts to prepare a standard textbook in Konkani have been going on for the past decade, he said the association along with the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and with help of Central Institute of Indian Languages has conducted workshops and training programmes in this regard. A textbook already developed by the association has been given to the Academy.

Dr. Pai said in anticipation of continuing the process and to evolve a consensus in the matter, the association attended a meeting arranged by the Academy here on May 15. The association has given its stand favouring Nagari script at the meeting, he said and added the Academy asked few of its members to join the expert committee set up by the Academy to prepare textbooks.

The Academy all along has favoured Nagari script and has even passed resolutions to this effect. The move to build a consensus in this regard is not needed at this stage, he said and added the association has informed the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT), which has to bring out the official textbook, of its opposition to Kannada script.

Asked if the DSERT accepts recommendations of the Academy in this regard, he said association will explore avenues open to it under the Constitution. "We will knock on the doors of the Constitution and seek solutions available to the issue as per the Constitution," he said and urged the State Government to ensure that Konkani is taught in Nagari script.

He noted that if the DSERT decides to accept the association's model of teaching Konkani in both Kannada and Nagari script, the issue will be placed before its members to decide. He said no other script apart from Nagari should be used in official textbooks.