Former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar has once again demanded official language status for Marathi in Goa, citing his own justifications at a meeting in Vasco last Saturday. Konkani is Goa’s official language and a central part of its identity. Although Marathi is used by sections of the Hindu community for reading, writing and religious activities, this does not automatically justify granting it equal official status. If language usage alone were the criterion, should Kannada, Bengali, Malayalam and Odia also receive official recognition? The Official Language Act, 1987, already permits the use of Marathi for various official purposes. Knowledge of Marathi is also considered desirable for certain government posts. Therefore, claims that the language is neglected warrant closer scrutiny. Is the demand for equal status genuinely about protecting Marathi, or does it serve a larger political agenda? With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, such demands risk deepening divisions among Goans and reopening old debates over Goa’s identity. Velingkar should explain what additional rights Marathi requires when existing provisions already recognise its use in the state.
JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
