In 1985, Luizinho Faleiro, then the lone MLA of the Goa Congress, had moved a private member’s bill to make Konkani the official language of the State. This move produced
an outcry from the MGP, then the sole opposition party in the State. The bill was eventually defeated but then chief minister Pratapsingh Rane promised to bring a government sponsored bill to achieve the same, but kept delaying it. Subsequently,
the Congress party executive with the backing of Eduardo Faleiro, supported the demand to make Konkani the official language of the State. What followed was an agitation that culminated with Statehood. In reality, it all started with Luizinho Faleiro’s bill and 31 years later Faleiro finds himself leading the Congress against the BJP and its allies. The veteran leader, who has been away from State politics for nearly a decade has perhaps arrived at the right time. Many of the personalities who led the Konkani agitation under the banner of the Konkani Porjecho Avaz are still around, but Faleiro’s role was crucial and important to the success of the agitation because he enjoyed
the status of MLA and was the originator of the idea of making Konkani the official language through a private member’s bill. With the government supporting
the resolution to make Marathi the official language of the State, Faleiro could find himself in the middle of a vortex, over which he might have little control. He has the political instincts and is as battle hardened as any other leader, having led the Congress
party to several victories in the North East. Whether he chooses to make it a political issue or not is entirely up to him because language has the power to divide rather than unite in this tiny State. Faleiro needs to tread carefully, just as he has been doing on the grand alliance issue. Of course a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1985.
Goa has undergone a sea of change. The economy is growing and so is the State’s stature as a tourist destination. Sadly, the language issue keeps on cropping up. The latest twist to the issue is the decision of the government to give grants to English
medium schools run by the Diocesan Society of Education. Another issue that is simmering in the background is that of Romi Konkani. There is a strong movement to get the Romi script recognized as official and any attempt to amend the Official Language Act will bring this to the fore. What happens now is still a matter of conjecture. The journey from a resolution to actual amendment of the Official Language Act is a long and arduous one, but the fact remains that political leaders are to be blamed for the language issue remaining unresolved.
