Mauricio Pereira <mpqa...@hotmail.com> wrote, "Strangely,while proponents of Konkani beat their chests in Goa, it took someone from across the border to give the state's official language another first. Chaya Venkatesh Vernekar, a native of Kumttha in neighbouring Karnataka, achieved a rare feat for the language when she got into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after clearing the Union Public Service Commission's 2009 exams with Konkani and Konkani literature as two of her subjects. "Konkani is my mother tongue."
Congratulations Chaya Venkatesh Vernekar!! I think that if anyone from Goa wants to join the IAS then it makes sense to emulate Chaya by like her taking Konkani and Konkani literature as two of his / her subjects. One has to normally decide about two years in advance whether one wants to appear for the IAS exam and one has to choose the subjects that one wants during this time. I think that if one has a basic knowledge of Konkani related subjects then that amount of time is quite sufficient for one to gain an advanced knowledge that will enable one to succeed at the IAS. Incidentally, the rules for the exam must have changed over the years, as when I was younger there was only one Konkani subject that one could have chosen. Cheers Augusto -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal, Moira, Bardez, Goa, India E pinto...@gmail.com or ypinto...@yahoo.co.in P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350