The short session of the Goa Legislative Assembly
concluded last week did not witness the introduction
of the Goa Daman & Diu Official Language Act 1987
amendment bill to grant recognition Roman script.
The reasons were obvious. INC was waiting for the nod
from the High Command the NCP could not raise it
because both elected members in the coalition
government are Ministers. The BJP was not keen to
take it up in this short budget as told to this writer
by Mr Francisco D"Souza BJP MLA Mapusa as they wanted
to have morchas dharnas outside the house to
consolidate the vote bank by highlighting the
shortcomings of the coalition government. Another
reason was that this session was not the appropriate
time according to most MLA's as it was intended only
as an overdue excercise to meet the Constitutional
requirement that the House meets within six months
(the last time they did that was ending 31st August,
2005).
The next session is convened on 20th March 2006
onwards to pass the mandatory vote of Account which
means the Government could also be toppled if the same
is not passed hence they MLAs and political parties
feel that this will be time appropriate
Meanwhile a delegation including this writer is
seeking the intervention of Congress President and UPA
Chairman Ms Sonia Gandhi (High Command) during her two
day visit to the State beginning tommorrow to direct
the Party in Goa and the coalition partners to take up
the issue of amendment to the Goa Daman and Diu
Official Language Act, 1987. There is another school
of thought emanating from ex MLAs and potential
contestants of all political parties to make this
amendment an "election agenda" when midterm polls are
expected in Goa and to include it in their manifestos
with MOPA and what have you. These are emotive issues
and can turn the tide against those that oppose
especially in the Velhas Conquistas Coastal Talukas of
Goa.
With all this the Indian National Congress will be the
only party who could gain from introducing the same
much before the battle lines are drawn for the next
elections expected by May 2006 (though due on May 2007
) and in any case before December, 2006 end.
Such being the situation the protogonists of Konkani
in Roman script are not leaving any stone unturned.
Following the successful rally on 10th February, 2006
at Panaji and the assurance of Dr Wilfred De Souza,Dy
CM and MLA Saligao Mr Churchill Alemao MP Lok Sabha
Mormugao Parliamentary Constituency Mr Radharao
Gracias ex MLA Loutolim Mr Victor Gonsalves ex MLA
Santa Cruz Ms Farrel Furtado ex MLA Velim to make
amends and do justice to Goans this is a clear feather
in the cap for the agitationists. In the days to come
the momentum is being built and the ONLY ONE SCRIPT
(DEVANAGARI) are feeling the heat.
Another feather in the cap for Romi lovers came when
Dr Wilfred A De Souza Deputy CM and NCP MLA Saligao
skipped the much touted All (India) Konknni Parishad
by not attending the same at Kala Academy on the 10th
February, 2006 but only attended the Romi lipi
(script) rally --- it sent a message to the
Devanagaris that they ought to fall in line with those
for diversity in script now.
As another boost the now INC MLA Margao and Minister
for Art & Culture Mr Digamber Kamat has already
promised to consider the naming of the Ravindra Bhavan
auditorium at Fatorda in the name of a dramatist and
playwright of yester years late Mr Joao Agostinho
Fernandes "Pai Tiatrist" (21.12.1871 to 29.08.1947)
and Founder of Concani Stage in Bombay 1892 --- a
resident of H No: 306 Modsai Behind Holy Spirit
Church Margao Goa now in Fatorda Assembly Constituency
South Goa Parliamentary Constituency.
Yet another achievement is that the Minister for
Education and MLA Navelim Mr Luisinho Faleiro fearing
that he may be alienated by the Romi lovers has given
a premise at the Government Polytechnic for the use of
the Dalgado Konknni Academy at Altinho Panaji today.
Incidentally DKA under the stewardship of eminent
tiatrist Mr Wilson Mazarelo and other members like
Tomazinho Cardozo, Fr Pratap Naik sj TSKK are
presently spearheading the movement for grant of
official recognition to Konkani in Roman script.
Again for the first time both Minister for Art and
Culture Mr Digamber Kamat and Minister for Education
Mr Luizinho Faleiro promised Rs one lac each for
hosting the Mando Festival publicly at the 39th Mando
Festival at Porvorim (if the same is held in Margao)
or out of Goa to promote out Goan culture.
(Incidentally only Rs 25,000 of the promised Rs 1 lac
have been released to the Goa Cultural and Social
Centre Panaji which organised the event according to
one of senior members of the Mando festival
organisors )
A signature campaign introduced in Mumbai by the
Archdiocese is in full swing while yet another is
spearheaded by an eminent activist Mr M K Jos.
Incidentally he handed over the first set of over
45,000 signatures to the President of India Dr A P J
Abdul Kalam during his re
