Konkani as the spoken language survived suppression by foreign rule. It was called the lingua franca of 'ayas' , cooks and butlers. Romances (romantic novels), Vauradeancho Ixtt, tiatrists and khell tiatr was its oxygen. Tiatrs were not patronised by high and mighty as it's now. The artistes were not kindly looked upon, especially for lady artistes it was a taboo and a social stigma. Konkani schools have folded up and so too Konkani dailies. Fr Freddy's legacy continues and so too one last page of local daily. Konkani for donkey's years was not represented by Devanagari script. There is variance of spoken Konkani in Ponda, Bardez and Salcete. The Devanagari Konkani as taught in schools, the words are not akin to what we commonly understand and speak but is adulterated with borrowed words from Marathi. The popular movement for the Romi script is worth consideration and is gaining ground and support from local bodies at grassroots level. Today DKA and TAG are doing immense service in the promotion, popularisation and preservation of Goan culture, ethos and traditions but the government support is half-hearted.
