Konkani on the verge of extinction: Ozario
DUBAI, June 26 (UNI): Despite having survived 6,000 years of turbulent history, migration and political and cultural oppression, Konkani is facing threats of extinction, according to an Indian Konkani cultural organisation. A majority of the about 5.5 million Konkanis in India and abroad are totally oblivious of this threat, Mr Eric Ozario, president of the 15-year-old Maandd Sobhann organisation, which is striving for the preservation of the unique Konkani culture and language, told Muscat's Times of Oman. "Konkani is not being taught in schools, except in Goa. Many have discarded it for English, Hindi or Kannada and today the fear of extinction of the language is so real that we have to sound the alarm to all the Konkanis in the world," he said. It is high time that Konkanis stopped aping the West and got down to preserving their culture and language, which was giving them their own unique identity, he exhorted fellow Konkanis during a visit to Oman. Mr Ozario is here as part of the organisation's Kalangaan Abhyaan, a stage show for the cause of the Kalaangaan - the Konkani heritage centre - that is being built in Mangalore. The centre, the first phase of which is completed, already has five fully functioning facilities. The second phase would include a research and documentation centre, a hostel block, guest block, administration block and a recording studio. Mr Ozario said Rs 1.5 crore was required to complete the project. Of this, Rs 21 lakh was needed urgently, he added. Accompanied by Messrs Arun Raj Rodrigues and Stany Alvares of the organisation, Mr Ozario is touring the Gulf countries to raise funds. They have already covered Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. On lIne -Navhind Times - Goa. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
