THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan (GRLA) has rejected Subhash Velingkar’s claim that Marathi is the “true language of Goa” and his demand for official-language status for Marathi.
GRLA Convenor Kennedy Afonso said Konkani is already Goa’s official language under the Official Language Act and Marathi is permitted for official purposes under the existing legal framework.
“Marathi has never been denied recognition in Goa. Marathi-speaking citizens have every right to promote and preserve their language, and that right must be respected,” he said.
Afonso said the real linguistic injustice in Goa was the exclusion of Romi-script Konkani from equal recognition. He pointed out that while Konkani is recognised as the official language, the Act specifically recognises it in the Devanagari script.
“This creates a glaring contradiction. If Konkani is the official language of Goa, why should the script in which a large section of Konkani-speaking Goans read, write, create literature, perform tiatr and conduct their cultural life be excluded from equal recognition?” he said.
Afonso said the Government should address the issue before considering another official language. He called for equal recognition of both Devanagari and Romi-script Konkani.
He said the demand of lakhs of Goans who use Romi Konkani was not aimed at taking anything away from Marathi or Devanagari Konkani, but at securing equality within Konkani.
GRLA has urged the Government to amend the Official Language Act to give equal recognition to Romi-script Konkani and permit Romi Konkani to be taught in schools.
