Members of the Global Konknni Forum brief the media on its twin demands for recognition of the Roman script in the Official Languages Act and introduction of Roman script Konkani in schools.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Global Konknni Akademi on Wednesday said that the Roman script does not need favours but needs justice and equal rights in the Official Languages Act.
The Global Konknni Forum has reiterated its twin demands—recognition of the Roman script in the Official Languages Act and the introduction of Roman script Konkani in schools. The Forum has urged the BJP government to consider, support, and pass the demands submitted to it in the upcoming session of the Goa Assembly.
Addressing the media, Forum General Secretary Salvador Fernandes said that the Global Konknni Forum believes accepting the twin demands will further strengthen the roots of the Konkani language and culture. Moreover, he said it will also enhance the image of the BJP, allowing the party to receive credit for this noble service and demonstrating that it is not just about issuing slogans but taking action to truly embody “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
“The present BJP-led government under Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is on record as having supported Konkani in the last six years, which was never seen before in the last 50 years. By saying so, he is confirming that he has supported Konkani in Devanagari only, thereby neglecting the Roman script, which also equally helps in spreading Konkani worldwide through literature, tiatr, journalism, mando, etc. The state government may justify that it is supporting and favouring the Roman script of Konkani by giving grants to Dalgado Konknni Akademi, and having a Tiatr Academy and supporting the annual Mando Festival too, but the Roman script does not need favours; it needs justice and equal rights in the Official Languages Act,” he said.
He added: “For the past 36 years, various organisations of Konkani in Roman script, and people who are preserving and promoting Konkani in Roman script in various ways, have been demanding equal status in the OLA, which has divided Goans on the basis of scripts. Out of those 36 years, Dr Pramod Sawant has been the CM of Goa for the past 6 years. During these last 6 years, the CM did not heed the grievances of the protagonists of Konkani in Roman script, thereby continuing the grave injustice done to the Roman script.”
Salvador said the present educational policies in Goa basically favour the Devanagari script, and marginalise and pose a challenge to those who are more comfortable with the Roman script. As a result, these students lose interest in the language and move away from Konkani in their daily life. In order to stop this damage, the Global Konknni Forum once again demands the introduction of Konkani in Roman script in schools to enhance language proficiency, which will go a long way to help students cultivate a stronger connection with their cultural heritage,” he added.
Salvador pointed out that for people preserving Konkani in Roman script, it is not merely a writing system but a struggle for cultural identity and historical preservation. “Its profound historical significance has been an integral part of Goan heritage, and over the centuries, it has evolved into the primary script for Konkani in Goa—a fact which no one can deny,” he added.
