Facts related to Konkani script Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) as an institution devoted to linguistic research into the Konkani language would like to draw the attention of Konkanis to a few important points regarding language and script, in the context of a controversy being raised by certain individuals to create confusion about the issue.
1. Central Hindi Directorate of Govt. of India brought out an official book, written by eminent linguistic scholars like Dr Suniti Kumar Chatterji, titled 'Devanagari - Development, amplification and standardization' They give the gist of language, alphabet and script, which we too emphasize and propose to you for serious consideration: "* Language is something that is intrinsic to personality. * Alphabet has a certain relation to language and some alphabets express different sounds more successfully than others. * Scripts are an abstraction thrice removed from direct experience. * Any alphabet can be written in any script and therefore it follows that any language can be written in any script, provided the alphabet has the necessary sounds. If it has not, such sounds may be added and visual symbols invented or adopted to represent them. * The only basis on which to prefer a script should therefore be clarity, legibility and capacity for easy manual and mechanical manipulation." 2. Though Devanagari is best suited to represent the sounds of Sanskrit, in ancient times Sanskrit used Brahmi script, and then the descendants of Brahmi, viz. Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Devanagari. Devanagari cannot show a number of sounds proper to Konkani, and its use is not as scientific as in Sanskrit because of inconsistent spelling. Devanagari cannot be the natural script for Konkani because it was not evolved for Konkani. 3. Konkani has used Roman script right from 16th century. Instances of use of Kannada script from 17th century in Goa, and in Karnataka Kannada script has been used for Konkani for over a hundred years. Devanagari script has been used only from the beginning of the last century in Goa, and very few use it elsewhere to write Konkani. 4. The resolution passed by the Sahitya Akademi recognizing Konkani as an independent modern literary language of India at the meeting of the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi held on 26 February 1976 is as follows: "As Konkani fulfils the criteria formulated by the Akademi for recognition of a language, it is recognized as an independent modern literary language of India. "With regard to programmes in Konkani like the annual award, publications, constitution and meetings of the Advisory Board, etc., involving expenditure, Sahitya Akademi should request the Government of India to provide the necessary extra funds. Such programmes and other activities should be undertaken only when extra funds are available." Here there is no mention of Devanagari script whatever. That was later on hoisted on Konkani by false propaganda. 5. The Constitution (seventy-first amendment) Act, 20th August,1992, does not mention the script of Konkani: "There have been demands for inclusion of certain languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. It is proposed to include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution." The amendment reads: "(a) existing entry 7 shall be numbered as entry 8, and before entry 8 as so re-numbered, the entry "7. Konkani." shall be inserted;" It is true, however, that only the Goa state when declaring its state language has mentioned Konkani in Devanagari. 6. The Constitution of India in defining Cultural and Educational Rights, has ensured the liberty of choice of script: " 29. Protection of interests of minorities. - (1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same." In view of the above six points we sincerely believe that language is primarily important. The importance of the script comes only at the written level. Therefore it occupies the secondary importance. Nobody can impose a single script on the entire society. Society has the right to decide script or scripts for their language. Common script should be evolved with consensus and dialogue and not by a priori decisions. By Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendr, Goa