the goan I network
PORVORIM
Former president of the Dalgado Akademi and recipient of the prestigious Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar for 2017, Premanand Lotlikar has appealed to Konkani writers in Devnagari and Romi script to forget their internal differences and work together for the progress of the Konkani language.
He was speaking after receiving the prestigious Antonio Pereira Konkani Puroskar awarded by Thomas Stephens’s Konknni Kendra at Porvorim.
“The writers of Konkani in Roman script are not against the Devnagari script. They feel that Konkani in Romi script should also get the status of official language.
“If both the scripts get official status, then there is no doubt that Konkani will prosper speedily,” said Lotlikar.
He further said Goans, who are going abroad in search of livelihood, do not teach Konknni to their children.
“Konkani language is part of our identity and it is duty of every Goan to preserve it. The younger generation should be explained about the importance of Konknni and Goan culture,” he added.
Others felicitated for their work in the field of literature include Agnelo Fernandes (Dr Jack Sequeira Konknni Puroskar), Pri Thomas Lobo (Maria Afonso Konknni Puroskar), Annie Fernandes (Valerio Carvalho Konknni Puroskar), Afonso B Braganza (Martir Floriano Vaz Puroskar) and Natividade De Sa (Pri Casmira D’Mello Konknni Puroskar).
