Speakers recall the Konkani language agitation on 39th death anniversary
Members of the Global Konknni Forum paying tributes to the Konkani martyrs at the Martyrs memorial in Agassaim.
On the occasion of the 39th death anniversary of the seven Konkani martyrs who laid down their lives during the historic Konkani language agitation, members of the Global Konknni Forum, Kuwait Konkani Mogi (KKM), and Kuwait Konkani Kendra (KKK) gathered at the martyrs’ memorial at Agassaim and paid floral tributes in solemn remembrance.
The tribute ceremony was attended by Sarpanch of Agassaim Panchayat Sally Gonsalves, former Sarpanch and Panch member Emie Fernandes, Panch member Piedade Fernandes, Secretary of the Global Konknni Forum Jose Salvador Fernandes, and Global Konknni Forum executive members Nora Antao De Souza, Calisto J L De Souza, and Vivek C Pereira. Also present were President of Kuwait Konkani Mogi Domnic Fernandes, Treasurer Agnelo Rebello, and several members of Glo bal Konknni Forum and KKM.
Addressing the gathering, Domnic Fernandes, President of Kuwait Konkani Mogi, expressed deep concern over the growing neglect of the sacrifices made by the martyrs. He stated that this day should have been of paramount importance to all Goans, particularly to those who frequently invoke the cause of Konkani. He lamented that after the language was granted official status, many Konkani individuals and organisations seemed to have forgotten the seven martyrs who fought for its recognition.
He further stated that the granting of official language status exclusively in the Devanagari script amounted to a grave betrayal of nearly 97 per cent of Konkani speakers who follow the Roman script, and who had openly supported the agitation. He added that although several organizations initially fought against this injustice meted out to Roman-script Konkani, even those efforts appear to have waned, along with the remembrance of the martyrs.
Speaking on the occasion, Jose Salvador Fernandes, Secretary of the Global Konknni Forum, underlined the rich history of the Konkani language and the 555-day long agitation that ultimately led to its official recognition. He pointed out that this history also includes the betrayal of Roman-script Konkani by Devanagari protagonists. He regretted that, till date, no comprehensive book documenting the Konkani agitation with all factual details has been published.
He informed that the Global Konknni Forum has initiated efforts to collect documents, testimonies, and historical material related to the agitation, with the intention of publishing them in book form. He stressed that post-agitation generations must be made aware of the sacrifices made by Konkani people to secure official language status for Konkani in Goa, and especially of the injustice inflicted on Roman-script Konkani speakers by keeping them uninformed and marginalised.
Responding to a question regarding the absence of an officially observed Konkani Martyrs’ Day by the government, Fernandes said that the government has consistently failed to recognise these seven individuals as martyrs. He remarked that had the victims belonged to any other section of the society, they might have been promptly accorded martyr status. Sarpanch Sally Gonsalves also addressed the gathering and paid homage to the martyrs, acknowledging their sacrifice during the Konkani language agitation.
