BY ISIDORE DOMNICK MENDIS

Today Goans, particularly Roman Catholics, are reluctant to communicate in their mother tongue. It is not only the elite from higher classes, but even folk from humble backgrounds feel inferior to communicate or express themselves in Konkani.

TO COMMEMORATE the dual celebrations of August 15 - the 62nd anniversary of India’s independence - and the feast of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, an essay competition in Roman Konkani was held at Our Lady of Merces Church, Merces.

The contest was jointly organised on August 16 by the Merces’ literary organisation Roman Konkani Goykaranchi Konkani Bhas , Songit , Kala ani Sonskrutai Kendr and the Dalgado Konkani Akademi.

The young participants were divided in two age groups of 10 to 15 and 15 to 30. They were given the option of either writing on a topic of their own choice or they could attempt from any of the two topics - Sovtontrai ani Saiban Mainchem Sorga-voronn i.e. Independence and Assumption of Mary or Sovtontr zaleant yon naim (are we really free after 62 years of independence)?

The objective of the essay contest was to increase awareness of the Roman script among youngsters. In spite of hard efforts put in by organisers for nearly two months, only 18 young boys and girls appeared for the competition. The dozen-and-a-half figure of the entrants looked abysmally low when one looks at the 2000 strong membership of Our Lady of Merces Church.

FEW TAKERS

THE shockingly few number of competitors in this essay competition, however, was not a rude cultural shock to Konkani lovers. Today Goans, particularly Roman Catholics, are reluctant to communicate in their mother tongue. It is not only the elite from higher classes, but even folk from humble backgrounds feel inferior to communicate or express themselves in Konkani. It has become a fashion to eat, drink and sleep in English or any language other than in Konkani.

“Goans are suffering from island mentality. They feel terribly low when it comes to speaking and writing in Konkani. In spite of many Goans being excellent orators and writers in English, Portuguese and other languages, they refrain from talking and writing in Konkani,” avers Fr. Pratap Naik S.J., the director of Thomas Stephens Konkkni Kendr (TSKK) based at Alto-Porvorim.

The Roman script is an important component of Goan uniqueness as Fr. Pratap says, “If we need to protect the identity of Goa, it is important to preserve and spread the use of roman script of Konkani.” He reminds us that Konkani in the Roman script has existed in Goa for hundreds of years and has played a stupendous role in the development of the Konkani language. In the sixteenth century, Jesuit and Franciscan priests in particular were instrumental in the dissemination of Roman Konkani. It was around 1556 that the first printing machinery was brought to Goa by the Jesuits. Even Konkani’s first grammar was prepared in Roman script by Fr. Andre Vaz in 1563.

A considerable section of Goans identify themselves with Roman rather than Devnagri script. Importantly, Devnagri is largely connected with the Hindi heartland whereas Konkani in the Roman script has a greater global appeal. “The Roman script can also act as a great cementing force to Goans settled across the globe. It can unify the Goan Diaspora” opines Fr. Naik.

LANGUAGE ACT

THOUGH Devnagri was incorporated in the Official Language Act on February 4, 1987, Konkani in the Roman script has still not been given its due importance, leaving Romi Konkani protagonists feeling that it is about time the state government ends its apathy towards Roman script. “The state should finally grant the much needed official recognition to Roman script at the earliest,” opines Sebastiao Fernandes and Caetano Pereira of Roman Konkani Goykaranchi Konkani Bhas, Songit, Kala ani Sonskrutai Kendr, Merces.

Since the readership for Roman Konkani has considerably dwindled in present times, hardly any material is available in Roman Konkani. Today, there are few monthlies and weeklies available in print like Vavradeancho Ixtt, Gulab, Jivit, and Goykar. Incidentally, Vavradeancho Ixtt has been in print for 75 years now. There was a time when even dailies like Divtti, Sot, Uzvadd, Goa Times (from Mumbai), etc were published in the Roman script. Sadly, these newspapers ‘died’ due to lack of funds.

However, the most important literature of daily use in Roman Konkani continues to be the Holy Bible i.e. Povitr Pustok. As in the past, Goan Catholic priests are still in the forefront of the endeavour to preserve and propagate Konkani in the Roman script. But the effective spread of Roman Konkani will only be possible if every Goan starts loving this language. As Goenkars, we should all feel proud to converse with each other in amchi mai bhaas - Konkani, and at the same time not despise the role of the Roman script.

It cannot be denied that English has an important place as a global language today. There is no doubt that there are tremendous educational and job opportunities available if one learns English. We should master English, but not blindly embrace it at the cost of our own mother tongue.

KILLING KONKANI

SADLY, today, Goans are killing our mother tongue by preferring to use English in all their activities. Today, even at home, an educated Goan gets a sense of pride - no matter how false and hollow that might be - by conversing with their kids in English. As a result, when these children grow up, they are not able to speak even a single sentence in Konkani. Which makes one wonder: why are we hell bent on passing on an artificial legacy to our children? Why are we Goans adamant to cut ourselves from our own roots?

To tide over the heavy influx of migrants, almost all Goans have now started talking about saving Goa for Goenkars. Our local politicos have started talking about getting special status for Goa from the Centre under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution. For this endeavour of protecting Goa’s unique identity, it is very important for all Goans, whichever part of the globe they might be residing in - to have or cultivate a sense of affinity with Konkani.

“People belonging to other states of India - whether it is West Bengal or Gujarat or Kerala or Maharashtra etc, proudly say they are Bengali or Gujarati or Malayalee or Marathi. Why can’t sons and daughters of Goa say they are Konkani? When will haughty Goans stop their disdain towards the mother tongue of Goa,” asks Fr. Naik passionately.

Otherwise, the day will not be far when Goenkars list their mother tongue as English, Hindi, Marathi, Portuguese or any other language.

The author is a freelance journalist from Merces.