Script issue takes centrestage at Konkani meet

The Konkani language and the various issues associated with the Konkani scripts was highlighted at the function organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad (ABKP) at the Menezes Braganza hall in Panjim today.
As the ABKP completes 25 years in February next year, the ABKP has decided to observe the year from July 2005 to July 2006 as “Konkani Varse”(year for the Konkani language).
Speaking at the function on the theme “one language, one literature, one script,” eminent writer and journalist, Chandrakant Keni said that Goans are there if there is Konkani and if Konkani is there the culture of Goa will be preserved. “Goans have to preserve our identity,” he added.
With reference to the Devnagari and Roman Konkani scripts, Pundalik Naik, president of Konkani Academy, mentioned that there are differences due to the two Konkani scripts. The question of the scripts will be answered only when the people think about it and do not go according to the majority. Sometimes people take the question of the scripts very lightly, added Naik. However, the script comes with an identity and the question that the ABKP faces is which script should be used, added Naik.
Fr Moreno D’Souza, Konkani writer, who was one of the speakers, questioned that if in other States people are using their mother tongue why is it that in Goa people do not use their mother tongue. The question is that there should be unity among people speaking Konkani, he said. A time should come when there should be one language in Goa, added Fr D’Souza. He said that Konkani is a rich language but because of the two scripts there are two groups in the State. We have to find a way out where the script is concerned, he added.
Also present was ex-lecturer of Dhempe College, linguist Dr Rocky Miranda from Mysore who highlighted the differences between the various scripts of Konkani. Among the others present were Louis Rodrigues, editor of magazine “Uzwad” from Belgaum and Basti Waman Shenoi, president of the ABKP.