MARGAO
In order to mobilize the people and gather support at village levels to its twin demands to grant equal status to Konknni in Roman Script in the Official Language Act, and to introduce Konknni in Roman Script in schools, the Global Konknni Forum has started a signature cum awareness campaign, beginning with Nuvem village.
Secretary of Global Konknni Forum Jose Salvador Fernandes, while explaining the gathering the grave injustice done to Roman Script in the Official Language Act for past 37 years, stated that there is a systematic move by a section of the society to wipe off Roman script, which is instrumental in preserving Konknni till date in various ways.
“For Goans, Konknni means Konknni written in Roman script, and it was precisely because of this reason that Goans supported the Konknni mass agitation of 1986-87, but they were betrayed at the last moment by Devanagari lobby, who did not want Konknni to flourish further in Roman script, and wanted to take forward their hidden agenda.”, he said.
Salvado went on to add that it is the need of the hour to introduce Konknni in Roman script in schools to safe guard the future of Konknni.
“Most of the students find Konknni taught in Devnagari script difficult and different from what they talk and hear at home. Hence, they lose interest in the language. The imposition of Devnagari in schools has led many astray from Konknni. Introduction of Konknni in Roman script in schools can be a death knell for Devanagari, hence there is strong opposition to Roman script at all levels”, he said.
To attain its twin demands, Global Konknni Forum has gone one step further, and started a signature campaign at village level, starting with Nuvem village, which will further strengthen the Forum’s demands which are rooted in Article 29(1) of the Indian Constitution.
Forum’s Treasurer Aplon Rebello, Executive members Jasmine Rodrigues and Xavier Mascarenhas also attended the meeting.
