Goan children will now be able to read tons of Konkani stories for free through digital platform StoryWeaver, an initiative of Pratham Books, which has partnered with Konkani Bhasha Mandal for this project
From Jagu, Mhaka Tech Jaai, Tambdo Raincoat to Hanv Madat Karta and Gulinchi Vastunchi Peti all of which have been translated from other languages into Konkani by Prashanti Talpankar, Rishikesh Kadam, Anwesha Singbal, Tanvi Bambolkar, Yogini Acharya etc, there is indeed a plethora of Konkani tales available for readers to devour. And these will now be available for free for Konkani speaking school children in Goa through StoryWeaver, an innovative initiative of Pratham Books.
StoryWeaver has been working towards nurturing the children’s book publishing ecosystem in minority languages that have limited or no children’s literature, thus facilitating the creation of joyful, supplementary reading material in three minority Indian languages on its platform. At the moment, it hosts over 7000 stories in 105 global languages and allows users to read, create, translate, download and share stories for free. Recently, it announced the creation of hyperlocal libraries for children to promote and preserve children’s literature in Konkani, Bhoti and Haryanvi. To carry out this project in Goa, StoryWeaver has partnered with Konkani Bhasha Mandal to translate over 100 books into Konkani.
“Presently, 50 books have been translated with 500 copies each and these 25,000 copies will be distributed free in Konkani medium schools and all those schools that have Konkani as a subject - a total of 250 schools and 25,000 children,” briefs Chetan Acharya, president, Konkani Bhasha Mandal. Acharya stated that this initiative will help thousands of children in Goa to read and enjoy stories in their mother tongue.
“When a language dies, with it a wealth of knowledge is lost forever. It is a death of a culture. Having rigorous discourse on this issue, and implementing mindful efforts to preserve endangered languages and its cultural capital, is a requisite of every publisher and language warrior,” says Suzanne Singh, chairperson, Pratham Books. Started in 2004 with the mission to see a book in every child’s hand, Pratham Books aims at publishing good quality, affordable storybooks in multiple languages to support reading acquisition among children. Since it’s inception, Pratham Books has published over 2500 books in 20 Indian languages. The books cover a range of genres including early readers, fiction, nonfiction, and storybooks on science, history, mathematics and nature.
Acharya adds that this initiative comes at a great time given the language scenario in the state. Most parents today, prefer to speak English over their mother tongue and converse in English at home, he states. He further adds that speaking in English has become a status symbol in Goa and due to this around 40 per cent parents, both in Catholic and Hindu community, deprive their children from reading and enjoying beautiful stories in Konkani. If parents are shy to speak in their mother tongue with their children, the GenNext will not learn it, he believes. “Pratham Books will bridge this gap now by making stories available in Indian languages including Konkani to Goan children,” observes Acharya.
He explains, “After getting to know that there exists a website with a pandora of stories which can be used by teachers and parents for their children, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal team started translating them to Konkani. We also conducted workshops in Goa University for students training them in translations.”
The Konkani children’s story books were launched on the occasion of International Mother’s Language Day at Ravindra Bhavan Margao. Inaugurated by Ramakrishna Samant, Chairman of Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) the event witnessed teachers and educators of over 200 schools in Goa. A panel discussion on the topic, ‘The importance of reading in the mother tongue’ elucidated the merit of having access to delightful reading material in mother tongue languages.
