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All the benefits need to be also given to Konkani written in Roman
Script , urges Edwardo Faleiro
PANAJI: NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro said that all incentives
given to writers in Devanagiri script, including Sahitya Academy
awards, representations on literary bodies and financial assistance
should also be given to writers in the Roman script.
Faleiro was speaking as chief guest at the Official Language Day
celebrations organized by the Goa Konkani Akademi, Panaji, on
Thursday, Feb 4, 2010.
It was on February 4, 1987, that Konkani was declared the official
language of the state.
Faleiro also called for the development and preservation of Konkani,
warning that Goans would lose their identity if they lost touch of the
language. Faleiro further called for parity between Devanagri and Romi
script writers stating that "a neccessary prerequisite for the
survival of the Konkani language is harmony among Konkani writers in
different scripts."
Faleiro said, "Konkani is a fundamental element of Goan identity and
it unites all Goans, irrespective of religion and lifestyle. The
survival of Konkani is essential for the preservation of Goan identity
now and in future."
The official language day function was marked by most speakers
lamenting that though Konkani was declared the official language of
Goa, there has been no development of the language in the last 23
years. Journalist Prakash Kamat said that the government has issued
only two notifications regarding the Official Language Act in all of
these 23 years. He charged that the use of Konkani is deliberately
kept out of government offices so that citizens have to struggle with
English and bureaucrats retain their hold over the citizens.
He said that the government has still not framed rules for the
Official Language Act and that it took the government 17 years to
constitute the directorate of official language. "The government has
always been creating vacancies for all government departments, but no
interest has been shown towards the development of the directorate of
official languages," he said.
Kamat said that since Goa lacks strong political leadership to promote
Konkani, it is up to the citizens to actively pursue the cause of the
language and ensure that it is used in the administration of the
state.
The guest of honour, Fr Feroze Fernandes, who is the editor of
'Vavradeancho Ixtt', said that Konkani should not be mixed with
political, religious or caste-based tenets and that it should be
developed since it is a "vivid sign of our identity."
Tomazinho Cardozo, president of the Goa Tiatr Akademi, also released a
book of the scripts of two tiatrs by renowned Konkani playwright Prem
Kumar. The scripts were of the tiatrs 'Fullam ani Kantte' and 'Jawan'.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/School-edu-must-be-in-Devanagri/articleshow/5536459.cms
