Pune Konkani Kristha Sabha President Elias Bardeskar and others while submitting a memorandum to Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in Pune.
BELAGAVI
Giving a fresh push to the preservation and promotion of Konkani beyond Goa’s borders, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced plans to write to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking the establishment of a Konkani Academy in Maharashtra to support the community and its writers.
Sawant also proposed organising a global Konkani convention next year, signalling a wider effort to bring Konkani speakers and cultural organisations across the world onto a common platform.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 34th All India Konkani Convention in Pune, Sawant urged public representatives from Maharashtra to take up the demand for the academy with the State government.
Drawing a parallel with the Maharashtra Information Centre in Panaji, which had taken Marathi films and cultural programmes to villages across Goa, he said a similar institution could play a significant role in promoting Konkani in Maharashtra.
The two-day convention is jointly organised by the All India Konkani Parishad and the Institute of Industrial and Technical Education.
Meanwhile, the Pune Konkani Christian Sabha (PKCS), an association of people of Goan origin settled in Pune, has appealed to the Goa government to safeguard the rights of native Goans, particularly over their comunidades and identify their existence as rightful Goans.
A team of office bearers of the association met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during his visit to Pune at the All India Konkani Parishad's convention and submitted the memorandum.
In its representation addressed to Sawant, the PKCS has urged the government not to overlook the rights of Goans settled outside the State, especially their rights and interests in the comunidades of Goa.
The Sabha stated that many native Goans, including members of the Christian minority community, had migrated from Goa their motherland to the Upper Ghats region and other parts of the country for various reasons and subsequently settled there. However, their emotional, cultural and ancestral attachment to Goa remains strong.
It emphasised that migration does not diminish their love for Goa or their legitimate rights as members of various comunidades. Their continued connection with the motherland is reflected in their preservation of the Konkani language, traditions, cultural values and Goan heritage passed down by their ancestors.
The representation, also expressed confidence that the Chief Minister would provide appropriate guidance and take necessary action in the matter.
President of the Sabha Elias Bardeskar (Govea), Vice President Sagar Bardeskar and former president Peter D'Souza handed over the representation.
Sawant is reported to have assured the delegation that the government is aware of the existence of the migrated Goans and assured the delegation of appropriate action.
