OLD GOA
The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has now decided to up the ante for getting official language status to Romi Konkani, and now it has been decided to launch a movement ‘Kodel Zai Ki Romi Zai’ to press the support of MLAs on the issue.
This was revealed at the meeting of GKF which was held near the Konkani Martyrs’ memorial at Agassaim on Tuesday evening.
Speaking at the meeting, GKF secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes informed that the forum will approach all the 40 MLAs with the ‘Kodel Zai Ki Romi Zai’ movement. “We are also going to approach the St Andre MLA for his opinion on the issue,” Fernandes said while stating that it was Agassaim where the movement for recognition of Konkani as a language started.
Incidentally, MLA Viresh Borkar was not present for the meeting even as former St Andre MLA Francisco Silveira and former St Cruz MLA Victor Gonsalves remained present.
On his part, Silveira assured of all support to the Forum in getting recognition for Romi Konkani as an official language, which is long due.
“The government should accede to the demand of the Forum and I have high hopes that it would do so,” Silveira added while highlighting the role played by Agassaim locals in the Konkani movement, particularly the six martyrs from the village who sacrificed their lives for the cause.
GKF president Kennedy Afonso said that the programme has been organised as it was on August 20, 1992 that Konkani got recognition as a language.
“But that time it was not specified that Devnagiri was the only script, as there were other scripts like Romi, Malyalam, Kannada and Perso-Arabic. In Goa, the scripts are Devnagiri and Romi but Devnagiri was given official status,” Afonso stated while adding that it did grave injustice to Romi Konkani.
“Many attempts were made in the past but without success but this time around we are going to wage a long drawn battle and if need be, we will even approach the Supreme Court,” Afonso informed and said that already resolutions have been passed in the gram sabhas of many villages demanding official status to Romi Konkani.
Former MLA Victor Gonsalves, Agassaim sarpanch Sally Gonsalves, GKF vice-president Michael Gracias, former Agassaim sarpanch Xavier Gracias, activist Mariano Ferrao, Fr Pio Furtado and others spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the dignitaries paid floral tributes to the seven Konkani martyrs at the Agassaim memorial.
The programme also featured several singers who sang Konkani songs to highlight the rich heritage of Romi Konkani.
