Says portrayal risks privileging one script over Konkani’s diversity
MARGAO
The Global Konknni Forum has raised serious concerns regarding representation, historical balance, and the inclusive portrayal of Konkani’s diverse linguistic traditions in the documentary film titled “Shri Uday Bhembre – The Voice of Konkani”, produced by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
The documentary is scheduled for screening on March 27 in collaboration with Ravindra Bhavan.
GKF Secretary Salvador Fernandes said that Bhembre is widely recognised as an important advocate of Konkani in the Devanagari script. However, presenting any single individual as the “voice” of Konkani is inherently problematic, given the language’s multi-script, multi-regional, and pluralistic character, he said.
“Historical accounts of the 1986–87 Konkani–Marathi agitation, carried out under the banner of Konkani Porjecho Avaz, clearly demonstrate that the movement drew participation from a broad cross-section of Konkani speakers. A significant number of these participants were aligned with the Roman script tradition. The agitation involved widespread mobilisation and collective sacrifice across communities,” he said.
He added: “Subsequently, the Goa Official Language Act, 1987, enacted on 4 February 1987, declared Konkani in the Devanagari script as the official language of Goa, while also recognising Marathi. This outcome has remained a subject of sustained debate, particularly among those who supported the continued use and recognition of the Roman script. During this period, Uday Bhembre was associated with the movement and also served as an Independent MLA. Public discourse since then reflects divergent perspectives on the positions taken by various leaders, especially on matters relating to script recognition and linguistic inclusion.”
Salvador said: “More recently, statements attributed to Bhembre suggesting that there was no significant opposition to the exclusion of the Roman script have been strongly contested by sections of the Konkani-speaking community. These disagreements underscore the necessity for a careful, nuanced, and inclusive representation of historical realities.”
In this context, he said the role of Sahitya Akademi cannot be overlooked. “When a national institution of such stature produces and endorses a narrative, it does more than document—it legitimises. The question, therefore, is not merely about a documentary, but about institutional responsibility: is it reflecting the full plurality of Konkani, or privileging a singular narrative?” he said.
He added: “To elevate one individual as the voice of Konkani risks diminishing the many voices that have collectively sustained the language. Konkani is not confined to a single script. It thrives in Roman in Goa, Kannada in Karnataka, Malayalam in Kerala, and Perso-Arabic among other communities. Any portrayal that centres one script-based perspective as definitive risks transforming diversity into hierarchy.
Saying that Konkani’s strength lies in its plurality, Fernandes said any attempt to compress it into a single script, a single narrative, or a single representative must be subjected to critical scrutiny. “Because when one voice is declared ‘the voice,’ many others are, inevitably, being asked to fall silent. This is not merely about a documentary—it is about who is remembered, and who is written out,” he added.
