Hello All, Here is a translation of Noman Romi Lipiek, a poem by Basilio Magno's. It was sent to me by one of our most focussed Goans, and I took it upon myself to share it further via Goanet -- a translation into English. I am keeping the word Konknni as opposed to translating it from the Konknni / Konkani; believing that it maintains the weight of its creator Basilio Magno's words. Likewise in some cases I hold on to the word Romi, and in other stanzas I used Roman script.
venantius j pinto ______________________________________________ Tum Romi Konknnicho mogi zaun hanv sontostam ek mhoji kavita: Noman Romi Lipiek, tuka pattounk. Patietam ti tum khoimsor tori porgott'toloi mhunn. Chodd rekadd tuka Espanhak than. Basilio Magno Being that you are a fan of Konknni, with pleasure a poem of mine: Hail Roman Script, I send you. Trusting that you will share (spread) it around. Much regards to you from Spain. Basilio Magno Noman Romi Lipiek borovpi: Basilio Magno Hail Romi script Basilio Magno Konknni bhaxe, tuk' kortam ami noman! Tum zali mhonn Raj-bhas amchea ganvachi, Tantun mellunk pavllem Gottok-raj amkam, Jem zaun aslem sothea amkam soimbachi. Punn torii dusro xevott aslo hacho, Ghott korunk Goeam ekvott Goy'mkarancho. Konknni language, we Hail thee! For being the language that governs (mother tongue) our villages, On account of which we achieved our vigorous existence, Which was indeed ours from time immemorial. But even though there may be other aspects to this, Twas strengthening in Goa unity among Goans. Ek bhas, ek des, tach' vorvim ekuch porza, Hi zaun asa vhodd politik-filosofi. Don bhaso zuzleot apleak gheunk ek Goa, Konknni jikli, arrun gheli Morathi. Punn Morathiwalle zaun xanne kolle, Tannim dampunn haddle Konknniche dolle. One language, one state, likewise one people, This having been a great political phhilosophy. Two languages fought to make Goa its own, Konknni won, Marathi lost. But Marathi protagonists being clever foxes, Blindfolded they Konknni eyes. Bulloile Konknnink, des-bogttichea nanvan: "Romi lipi naka, ti zaun Eropi, Ti Goeam haddli Purtuguez soithanan; Amchi dhexi lip as' Devnagiri." Zaite Romin borovpi haka bull'let, Morathi ravlet zague, Konknni niddlet. Fooled were the Konknnis, in the name of nationalism: "Reject Romi script, to Europe it belongs, It was brought to Goa by the Portuguese Satan; Our regional script is Devnagiri." Many writing in Romi were fooled by this, The Marathi (side / lobby) stayed awake, the Konknnis slept. Zait zaiteank puttounknam hem soth porgottunk, (Biyonn mhunnot mhonn Purtuguez-cho lembddo); Ki Romi lipien sompem ekvott zoddunk, Nhoi fokot Goy'mcho, punn akhe Indiecho; Zossem korun ghetlem bhair vhodd desamni, Tanche vhoir thoddi vollouk gheuhea ami. Perhaps it was that many could not stomach this truth, (In fear of being labelled a Portuguese appendage); That through Roman script unity would be easily created, Not only among Goans, but in India as a whole; As achieved abroad by many nations, Let us get to understand this a bit. Poilem Sonvsari Zuz somp'por, Turki ganv Vapddi Arabik lipi Turki borounk; Punn 'Attarturk' poddver ietoch, (vhodd tach' nanv!) Formailem Romi lipien Turki xikounk. Romi lipien sompi zaun, vaddli ti bhas, Aiz Eropak porzollta ticho porkas. The First World War having ended, Turkey Employed Arabic to write Turkish; But 'Atttaturk' upon taking power (praise be his name) Decreed that Turkish be taught in the Roman script. It being simplified on account of the Roman (script), that language Today in Europe spreads its brightness Asat zaite vhoddle des Asiak, zannim Arab lipi niklaun Romi vapuddli. Ponas vorsam patim des Indones-in, Apli bhas Romi-n borounk suru keli. Tanche dhekin Singapor, Malaisia, Apleo dhexi bhaso Romi-n boroita. There are large countries in Asia, which Have shed Arabic script employed Roman (script) Fifty years ago Indonesia-ns, Began writing its (national) language in Roman script In its wake Singapore. Malaysia, Write their national languages in Romi Hem sompeponn ami khudd zanno Goeam, Chodd konn khoreponni xiklonam Konknni; Ti maim-pain ulloileli aikon ghoran, Xikleom ullounk, borounk soronknam patim. Inglez vo Purtuguez borounk zanno zaun, Konknni borounk zall' sompi, nastan' lisaum. This simple fact we do know in Goa, Not many truly studied Konknni; Hearing it spoken in the house by mother and father, Learnt to speak it, not hesitating to write it. English or Portuguese one may know to write, It turned out Konknni was easy to write, sans education. Goem zaun aslem Roma Udentichem, Goy'mkaramni koretalem vhoddlem nanv, Zor' Romi lipien-uch borounk tharail'lem Ani Indiek dilelem hem lisanv. Konnamcheanui sompi xikunk zait asli, Zaunk ti bhas Tamil, Hindi vo Guj'ratti. Goa had been the Rome of the East, Creating a large reputation for Goans, Had it been legislated that writing be only in the Roman script And India provided this knowledge (education) Anyone would find it easy to learn Whether the language be Tamil, Hindi or Gujarati Kotta, Goy'mkaranim chukoilem tarum, Manddun gheun Devnagirin Konknni borounk. Ai, des-bhogtteani poleat tumi chintun, Kitlem borem zat'lem aslem ami dakounk: Ek bori dhek Indiek 'Romi' lipi vorvim, Punn kotta, hem konnem chintlenam tumi. Its obvious, that Goans missed the boat, In agreeing to accept writing Konknni in Devnagiri. Aah, national-stalwarts (nationalists) mull over this and understand, How good it would be had we shown: A good example to India through the 'Romi' (script) But it is obvious, none of you thought this out. Chint'ia ami nhoi Konknne vo Kristanv mhunn, Bogor put ani dhuvo Goa-maimchim. Choddam potram, oi, ietta Romi-n xapunn, Tim adim, Kristanv, Konknneanim vachlim. Kiteak atam kortam ami veglikai, Ani mhunntam Dev'nagiri lipi zai. Think not of ourselves, as Hindus or Christians, Indeed sons and daughters of mother Goa. Various papers, yes, are published in Romi, Those in the past, Christians, Hindus would read. Why do we now create this division, And affirm a desire for the Devnagiri script Xekdde bhor Romi lipien xapli Konknni Potram: Udentechem Sallok, Soth, Uzvadd, Udentechem Neketr, Goa Times, ani Vavraddeancho Ixtt, Goykar, Rotti, Gulab. Romi lipi zalea amchem herderponn, Tem ami sambalya ekvottan ravon. In the hundreds in Roman script were published Konknni Publications: Udentechem Sallok, Soth, Uzvadd, Udentechem Neketr, Goa Times, ani Vavraddeancho Ixtt, Goykar, Rotti, Gulab. Roman script has become as heritage, Preserve it we must in unified existence. _____________________________________________________________________________ Udentechem Sallok: The Lotus of the East / The Eastern Lotus; published in 1889 by Eduardo Jose Bruno de Souza (1836-1905). From the first editorial: As on a lake limpid like a mirror, blooms a beautiful Lotus and spreads its fragrance around, so does this Lotus of the East rise amidst our people. This news is undoubtedly of great joy to us. Who can tell of what use it will be, where the fragrance of the Lotus will reach if we do what is in our power to do. man cannot live without companionship and no companionship can flourish without language'. (My characteristic comment: Holy Smokes). Soth: Truth Uzvadd: Light, Enlightenment Udentechem Neketr: Star of the East / Star of the Orient Goa Times Vavraddeancho Ixtt: Worker's Friend Goykar: Goan Rotti: Bread Gulab: Rose _____________________________________________________________________________ Polle, Romi lipien borovppi utt'leat, Zague korunk tumkam je as' susegadd; Ekvottan tumi soglle adar dieat, Salvar korunk Romi lipiechem bhiradd. Anv Romi lipien borovppi pordesan, Kalzan than kortam tumkam soglleank Noman! Look around, those writing in Romi have arisen, To awaken those of you who remain nonchalant; In Unity give all of your support, Towards reclaiming the reach of Romi script. And to those writing in Romi from abroad, >From the heart to you all I Hail!