Goa seems to get caught up in one controversy after the other that keeps raging, we have had the VCD on freedom struggle, Konkani V/s Marathi language issue, the opinion poll, Mopa Airport and now the battle between Konkani v/s Konkani is over its script.
Prima facie the confusion created over the script seems to be a ploy by politicians to strike the sensitive nerve by whipping up passions and arousing sentiments for vote bank politics well before the ensuing assembly elections. The controversy is also due to vested interest promoters of the konkani language who are making every attempt to exert pressure on Government to secure large funds for financing their own konkani Academies, Mandals, Kendra’s, Parishads and which is why the issue has suddenly erupted and is taking an ugly turn.
No doubt Konkani (with devnagiri script) has been included in the eight schedule of our constitution having an official language status that has enabled us maintain our identity, but the moot question is whether it would be worthwhile for one official language to have two different scripts incorporated at this stage through an amendment in the Goa, Daman and Diu official language act, 1987 and whether it will need the approval of the Central Government / Parliament and would it not expose our own divisive misdeeds is a matter that needs introspection and contemplation.
The saying goes that one has to strike when the iron is hot, why were the Roman script protagonist sleeping over the issue and why was no action was taken to correct the anomaly since last nineteen years?
Konkani in the Devnagiri script was accepted as the official state language of Goa since 1987 on the assumption that the learner already has knowledge of that script which is common to Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, and Sanskrit, besides the Government of India (Department Of Hindi) had brought out a book and cassette for the purpose of learning Konkani through Hindi and vice-versa. Our school and college students are taught Konkani through the Devnagiri and have by now become familiar and acquainted with this commonly accepted script, therefore making a loud noise now for equal status will only aggravate the situation and cause further confusion without serving any purpose.
We are all aware that the Roman script is very popular and widely used among the catholic community in their correspondence and has the backing of the church as religious services are conducted in Konkani using this script and it is rather surprising that our powerful catholic politicians and ministers have failed to address this burning issue for equal recognition on the floor of the legislative assembly all these past years and such a situation would never have arisen.
Although it is our right to protect our mother -tongue being sons of the soil, we have to do away with negative thinking and crab mentality and learn to settle our petty squabbles and iron out the creases amicably for the common good of Goa. Can we as a society that is moving forward, afford to remain mired in prejudices of the language of the people?
A language and its script cannot be forced on the people and it should be left open for the Goan to choose the script he prefers and any interference or involvement with the language controversy by government, political parties, individual politicians and other interested parties may turn the tables and have a reverse effect, which may not be able to correct itself.
The Government must refrain for taking sides and should distance itself completely from the language issue, there should be a total stop to funding and financing any organization or group that thrives under the garb of promoting the language its art and culture which should be left entirely to the lovers of the language devoid of political and government interference.
Today the scene is all together different. We are still struggling for a good quality of education, freedom from corruption and other related freedoms that are being denied and it is imperative for government to stress on how to prepare the Goan to take up new challenges on strength of self rather then the strength of language.
We have a cosmopolitan populace in Goa who speak different languages. The outside influx is growing and controlling Goa and we goans are heavily dependent on them. Be it the fishermen at the Betim jetty, the barber, podeiro (baker/bread man), carpenters, masons, labourers, waiters and motorcycle pilots, are also outsiders doing roaring business. The outsiders have become sarpanchas and municipal counselors and very soon may even contest the assembly elections and become ministers, most white collared jobs in the private sector are filled with these hardworking outsiders who have built fortunes, married our pretty goan girls and made Goa their homes.
Our NRI’s have become rich and famous, these Goans are educated to the hilt and are proud to communicate in konkani to preserve the Goan identity. Goa has a rich cultural heritage, ethos, tradition and most of all the Goan spirit of unity in diversity, the inseparable bond of harmony that exists between Hindus and Catholics for hundreds of years, the unconditional love a goan has for his fellow Goan. Why are we then looking for a diversion through the language issue to destroy the peace of Goa?
There is no reason why the Goan should fight with his own fellow Goan. Let us concentrate and capitalize on the positive side of peaceful co-existence that will strengthen the future of our children and our people instead wasting our productive time, energy and money creating divisions in the name of konkani. It is high time that we bury the language issue once and for all and divert our energy towards preserving our sweet and versatile Konkani.
Prima facie the confusion created over the script seems to be a ploy by politicians to strike the sensitive nerve by whipping up passions and arousing sentiments for vote bank politics well before the ensuing assembly elections. The controversy is also due to vested interest promoters of the konkani language who are making every attempt to exert pressure on Government to secure large funds for financing their own konkani Academies, Mandals, Kendra’s, Parishads and which is why the issue has suddenly erupted and is taking an ugly turn.
No doubt Konkani (with devnagiri script) has been included in the eight schedule of our constitution having an official language status that has enabled us maintain our identity, but the moot question is whether it would be worthwhile for one official language to have two different scripts incorporated at this stage through an amendment in the Goa, Daman and Diu official language act, 1987 and whether it will need the approval of the Central Government / Parliament and would it not expose our own divisive misdeeds is a matter that needs introspection and contemplation.
The saying goes that one has to strike when the iron is hot, why were the Roman script protagonist sleeping over the issue and why was no action was taken to correct the anomaly since last nineteen years?
Konkani in the Devnagiri script was accepted as the official state language of Goa since 1987 on the assumption that the learner already has knowledge of that script which is common to Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, and Sanskrit, besides the Government of India (Department Of Hindi) had brought out a book and cassette for the purpose of learning Konkani through Hindi and vice-versa. Our school and college students are taught Konkani through the Devnagiri and have by now become familiar and acquainted with this commonly accepted script, therefore making a loud noise now for equal status will only aggravate the situation and cause further confusion without serving any purpose.
We are all aware that the Roman script is very popular and widely used among the catholic community in their correspondence and has the backing of the church as religious services are conducted in Konkani using this script and it is rather surprising that our powerful catholic politicians and ministers have failed to address this burning issue for equal recognition on the floor of the legislative assembly all these past years and such a situation would never have arisen.
Although it is our right to protect our mother -tongue being sons of the soil, we have to do away with negative thinking and crab mentality and learn to settle our petty squabbles and iron out the creases amicably for the common good of Goa. Can we as a society that is moving forward, afford to remain mired in prejudices of the language of the people?
A language and its script cannot be forced on the people and it should be left open for the Goan to choose the script he prefers and any interference or involvement with the language controversy by government, political parties, individual politicians and other interested parties may turn the tables and have a reverse effect, which may not be able to correct itself.
The Government must refrain for taking sides and should distance itself completely from the language issue, there should be a total stop to funding and financing any organization or group that thrives under the garb of promoting the language its art and culture which should be left entirely to the lovers of the language devoid of political and government interference.
Today the scene is all together different. We are still struggling for a good quality of education, freedom from corruption and other related freedoms that are being denied and it is imperative for government to stress on how to prepare the Goan to take up new challenges on strength of self rather then the strength of language.
We have a cosmopolitan populace in Goa who speak different languages. The outside influx is growing and controlling Goa and we goans are heavily dependent on them. Be it the fishermen at the Betim jetty, the barber, podeiro (baker/bread man), carpenters, masons, labourers, waiters and motorcycle pilots, are also outsiders doing roaring business. The outsiders have become sarpanchas and municipal counselors and very soon may even contest the assembly elections and become ministers, most white collared jobs in the private sector are filled with these hardworking outsiders who have built fortunes, married our pretty goan girls and made Goa their homes.
Our NRI’s have become rich and famous, these Goans are educated to the hilt and are proud to communicate in konkani to preserve the Goan identity. Goa has a rich cultural heritage, ethos, tradition and most of all the Goan spirit of unity in diversity, the inseparable bond of harmony that exists between Hindus and Catholics for hundreds of years, the unconditional love a goan has for his fellow Goan. Why are we then looking for a diversion through the language issue to destroy the peace of Goa?
There is no reason why the Goan should fight with his own fellow Goan. Let us concentrate and capitalize on the positive side of peaceful co-existence that will strengthen the future of our children and our people instead wasting our productive time, energy and money creating divisions in the name of konkani. It is high time that we bury the language issue once and for all and divert our energy towards preserving our sweet and versatile Konkani.
1 comment:
This article reflects my sentiments exactly. Though a "non-goan" konkani (Was born and brought up in Kerala), i find this issue very disturbing. Why do we have to fight over petty stuff like this? Why can't we divert our attention to preservation of Konkani language in which ever script it is written in?
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