Discussion on Official Language Act, 1987, in the Goa Assembly On Monday, 25 August 2008, in Goa Legislative Assembly during discussion on 'Demands' of the Home and other ministries, eight members including the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, spoke on the Official Language Act, 1987. Dy. Speaker and MLA of Cortalim, Mr. Mauvin Godinho, was the first person to speak on this topic. He very forcefully articulated the demand for recognising the fact that 90% of the persons whoe read Konkani in Goa did so in the Roman script. A large number of periodicals [weekly, monthly and quarterly magazines] with large circulation and readership was proof enough, he said.
The demand for discussion on this topic was laid before the House by Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Mauvin Godinho was followed by Mrs. Victoria Feranandes (St. Cruz), Mr. Agnelo Fernandes (Calangute), Mr. Alexio Reginaldo Lourenço (Curtorim), Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Mr. Dayanand Mandrekar (Siolim), Mr. Francisco Silveira and Chief Minister. All the speakers were in favour of giving its due place to Roman script in the Official Language Act. Mr. Manohar Parrikar was, perhaps, the best speaker. He had done thorough home work. One could see this the way he spoke and presented the matter in the House. He suggested that a committee comprising MLAs , Marathi protagonists and Konkani in Roman script protagonists be constituted and within two months to come to a consensus on the language issue and to settle it the issue. In Goa Konkani is written in two scripts, Devanagari and Roman scripts and they use two different dialects, namely, Antruzi and Bardeshi. Konkani scholar at the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim, Dr. Pratap Naik SJ, informs that Brahmi was the first Indian script and all other Indian scripts were modification of it. Devanagari script evolved only in 900 A. D. Since Sanskrit was written in many scripts, in 1857 the British decided to make the Devanagari script the official script of Sanskrit to teach it as a subject in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay Universities. Sanskrit was and is written in a number of script. While replying to the Demands, the CM said that he is ready to discuss this issue and to find satisfactory solution once and for all for the good of Goa and Goans. On Friday 29th August Parrikar's private member resolution to constitute a committee of representatives of MLAs, supporters of Roman script and supporters of Marathi is scheduled to be discussed in the House. Many Konkani lovers are anxious to see what the government will do to settle the long standing demand of Roman script supporters. A few of them were in the visitors' gallery of the Assembly hall this evening. Miguel Braganza -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
