MARGAO
The Global Konknni Forum on Sunday said the statement made by the President of the All India Konknni Parishad Fr Mousinho Athaide that Konknni writers may write in their own script, but writings aiming for awards have to be done in Devanagri script only shows their selfish interests to protect their own script, and finish off other scripts.
Terming Fr Ataide’s statement as contradictory, Konknni Global Forum president Kennedy Afonso said they should rename themselves as “All India Devanagri Parishad to finish All Scripts" of Konknni.
He further said the statement made by Prof Ganesh N Devy at the Parishad that close to 1,500 to 2,000 books are produced every year in Konknni, is false. “All books published must be deposited with the Central Library as per law and record is available. In all languages put together, Goa does not produce 300 books in a year. Totally Kannada produces 300 books and Nagri around 50 in a year. So why is Kannada left out of Sahitya Awards is the million dollar question?” he questioned.
To the statement made at the All India Konkani Parishad that they are ready to hold discussion with Global Konknni Forum on the script issue, Kennedy, however, said “on the first day of the Parishad, AIKP President Fr Mousin Ataide has categorically stated that the official language Act should not be amended to give equal status for Roman Script, and also objected to its introduction into schools. “What is there more to discuss? There is no point in any dialogue with AIKP , as they don’t have any authority to grant us our demands," he said.
He added: “What the AIKP suggests or recommends is irrelevant to us, as AIKP has no say in either amending the Official Language Act, nor to introduce Roman script Konknni into schools. The prerogative of amending the Official Language Act lies with the the government of Goa and they must heed the demands of the people. Today, Colva Panchayat gram sabha has passed the resolution to demand equal status for Roman Script. In a democracy, the government must listen to the voices of the people, and make immediate steps to protect the fundamental rights of the people.
The GKF has suggested to AIKP that that they should rename the Parishad as All India Devanagri Konknni Parishad, because an All India Konknni Parishad can only be organised by all the Scripts of Konknni, where the literature of all scripts of Konknni are treated with equal respect.
Kennedy said Global Konknni Forum and Maand Sobhann will meet in Mangaluru on November 3, to discuss the possibility of organising an All Konknni Scripts Adhiveshan in Goa shortly. While the AIKP was primarily established to promote and create a monopoly for Devanagri only , the All Konknni Scripts Adhiveshan mantra will be to promote equality in diversity for all Scripts of Konknni, he added.
