From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org "J. Colaco < jc>" <cola...@gmail.com> wrote:
<<In closing, a question for those who might know the answer: What is the mother tongue of Goans? <<IF Konkani is the mother tongue of Goans, WHY are Marathi schools supported and not English schools?>> Dear JC, You seem to have read my mind. Just yesterday, I have sent to Sunaparant an article on this very topic. The UNESCO recommendation is being bandied in support of the denial of grants to English medium primaries. My suggestion is to implement this recommendation in toto. Konkani is the mothertongue of the children of Goans and the language of the region or environment for those children whose mothertongue Konkani is not. Therefore only Konkani schools should qualify for grants; I understand that this is the custom that prevails in the rest of India. **Dear Sebastian, I do agree with you totally that Konkani is the mother-tongue of the children of Goans and that only Konkani medium schools are qualified for grants. There are not two mother-tongues. Let the Government study the problem with better care. Problems of text books and teachers should be solved. Parents are free to send their children to the schools of their choice. Regards. Fr.Ivo **While witnessing the bandh in favour of our mother-tongue, I would like to ask again: Which is the mother-tongue of the Goans? If Konkani is the mother-tongue, then why is Marathi being treated as the second mother-tongue? The language to be taught in the primary school is Konkani and English. You may teach Marathi, but not as a medium of instruction. The language of the State, of if there is no language of the State, then the language of the region. We are not immersed into Maharashtra, therefore it is not our regional language. It is not, therefore, Konkani or regional languages. This is wrong. When Goans were fighting for Konkani, how many of those involved in the bandh, were active for Konkani? Where were they when we were fighting for our "matr-bhasha" (avoybhas, mother-tongue)? I remember that our Hindu brethren, in general (barring a few who are working for Konkani) were speaking against those priests who were fighting for Konkani. What happened now to them? Good that our Goans are rising from deep slumber and recognizing their own mother, which is Konkani, not Marathi. Then let us work for a reasonable solution. Regards. Fr.Ivo
