A translation of Jose Salvador Fernandes' Son'varachim Sungttam: Gõykarancho Otmo!
I have stayed on the side of the literal since it gives a better flavor of the rhythm and pace of the Konknni language. venantius j pinto The Goan Soul (The Soul of Goans) -- Jose Salvador Fernandes As and when the need arose, I made trips -- two or three, to Mumbai and returned. While travelling to Mumbai by bus, on every trip, I -- my inner being experienced something. The bus having left Margao for Mumbai, after crossing downwards across the undulating Goan boundary, towards the heights -- to enter Maharashtra; at that point this thought swirls in the mind, making it apparent that one has entered into an unfamiliar territory. Later this sense of ennui clings to ones being as though having turned into my shadow, while repeatedly speaking of the unfamiliar. "You are in peculiar surroundings. In these surrounds there is no one who may be related to your mother -- someone familiar. In this unfamiliar environment – you will pass your days and times; what you will not -- is spend them by opening ones mind and heart to all. Often times, the day is spent under the pressure of a feeling of emptiness. I get -- the feeling that I am surrounded by someone on my maternal side. Having to bear this sensation (of feeling an emptiness) during the journey (at length) and on account of attempting to gain release by kicking it into a corner, I purposely tune my attention, mind and ear to those in the bus speaking in our language. In the sixteenth-seventeenth centuries and in earlier times; if one sits down to read the pages of Konknni history through the lenses of reflection; in those times what position was accorded to Konknni, how did it develop, and in its development -- a result of various formulations realizing a rich literary trove while continually flourishing; this is indeed apparent. During that period, the Konknni language evolved considerably. It attained adulthood. Matured. As this continued, Goa became the main center for Konknni (Konknni sank its roots in Goa). But as we see it, the foundational base of this original language, we could say, has begun crumbling little by little. There was a time, when saying "Goan" meant a Konknni being. But today's Goan, let alone the aspect of "the Konknni being" aside, has become, everything else but. The Goan Hindu these days upon being addressed as a Konknni, makes a wry face, a rotten one. If one speaks about Konknni to or in front of the Hindus of today, their faces reflect lines of consternation. The large mass of common Goans have absolutely no interest in their language. Upon observation, lets keep aside the fact that it is being played with in various ways. What is shameful is that he is ashamed to speak his own language, engendering feelings of belittlement. To save his language today --- via subscribing to Konknni papers, magazines, by purchasing and reading them, ensuring they continue to survive by helping in whatever way one can; although this ability exists in body, mind as well as in ones pocket -- one remains an invalid. Despite comprehending that one is connected to ones language, he has become estranged from it. Do we have the unity, that Goa and Konknni -- that they, may never by anyone, undergo being pillaged or ripped apart. When one says Goa, it is synonymous with the Konknni being. Within this Konknni Language is embodied the Goan spirit. It is his soul. It is knowledge / awareness It is identity. But the Konknni masses in the Goa that is today, are a stain on this rich heritage. They are continuing to neglect the relationship between Goa and Konknni. It is for those reasons, that the Goan of today in manners of his speech, lifestyle, dressing is left wanting. If every Goan was as a matter of course to connect Goa and Konknni in their diverse walks of life, in this way the Konknni earth will keep thriving. And if this were to happen, as time slowly passes by, another civilization will be saved from extinction. Konkanim is the mother tongue (avoi / maim bhas -- Sanskrit: mAtRu-bhAShA, Latin: mater lingua) of every Goan. This Konknni is the soul of every Goan. In this Konknni language, is resident the Goan identity. Not merely that, but morever that the Konknni language be the backbone of each and every Goan. Our backbone hereafter should not bend in the least bit. Our soul does not deserve to be beaten and cast aside. Not just in centuries to come, but even in the distant future, our backbone must be held upright, to render towards Konknni, a true service-vocation; in keeping alive the soul of our civilization -- do we have what it takes, within ourselves. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > From: "Goa's Pride www.goa-world.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Son'varachim Sungttam: Gõykarancho Otmo! > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Son'varachim Sungttam g?Ykarancho Otmo! - Jose Salvador Fernandes Goroz bhasli tednam don-tin khepo Mumboi vochun ailom. Mumboi vochpa khatir bosin provas kela title-i pavtti mhojea mhakach ek onnbhov meulo. Moddganvchean Mumboi vochpak suttleli bos, mannkulea G?ychi xim' utrun vorixtt Maharaxttrant proves korpa khatir vegan dhanvta, tednam hanv porki vattarant bhitor sorlam mhonnpachem monant ghunvot ravta. Uprant hem prokiponn mhoji savlli zal'le porim mhojeach sangata ravta ani porot-porot toch porkeaponnacho bhas korta. "Tum porki vattarant asa. Hea porki vattarant tuzo mayecho konn na. Hea porki vattarant tum je dis, vell sartolo, te tum meklleponnan sarcho na. Choddso vell - dis porkeponna khala chepotuch sartolo." Punn jednam sangata aslelim her G?ykar bhav-bhoinni tea porki vattarant legit Konknnintlean gozali-khobro kortat teo mhojea kanar sadoutoch, hanv G?ychea G?yant aslolea vori mhaka dista. Mhoje maincho konn tori mhoje sorbhonvtim asloleachi khos bhogta. Hi khos toxich lambchi lamb bhogche khatir ani tantuntlean mhoji fattich soddinaslelea porkiponnacher khontt marun konnxak sorchem mhunn, mhojem dhean-mon-kan bosint amche bhaxentlean uloyteleanche gozalim kodde mud'dom zaun 'tune' kortam. Sollavea-sotravea xekddeantlea ani tea adlea legit Konknnichea itihasachim panam niyallachim oklam laun vachunk boslear, tea kallar G?yant Konknni bhaxechem sthan kitem aslem, ti koxi gholltali ani te ghollnnentlean fuddarak vingodd-vingodd prokaram udexim sahit'yachea girest daizan ti koxi fulot-palet ravli tachi vollokh ghoddta. Tea kallar G?yant Konknni bhas bori ful'li. Prouddtayek (adulthood) pavli. Tizli. Oxem zata-zata, G?y Konknnichem mullpitt zalem. Punn az hea mullpittachi il'li-il'li korun mullavi bhas kosllot vochunk suru zalea mhonnpachem amkam disun yeta. Eka kallar, G?ykar mhollear Konknni monis aslo. Punn aicho G?ykar "Konknni monis" soddun her sogllem zala. Aichea G?ychea Konknneak Konknni mhonnona borabor tachem tondd bavta, kusta. Aichea Konknnea hujir vo samkar Konknnicheo khobro ulounk laglear, tachea tonddar Konknni bhaxechea sombondan dvesachim chin'nam distat. Az G?ychea sorvsadaronn lonknneak aple bhaxechi il'li-i umed na. Thokos gheun, vegllea-vegllea rupan tika khelloupachi gozal sodduch. Lojechi gozal mhollear taka aplich bhas uloupak loz dista, unneponn bhogta. Az taka aple bhaxecho samball korunk - Konknni potram-masikank jairati divop, tim viktim gheun vachop, tim chaluch urchim mhunn aplea thaim ghoddta ti mozot divop - kuddik, monak ani bolsak boll ason-ui to "durboll" zata. Apnnak aple bhaxe thaim bandilki asa hachi zann ason-ui to aplech bhaxecho porki zala. G?y ani Konknni - hankam konnacheanuch, kednach chorun vhorunk vo toddpak zaina toslo sombond asa. G?y mhonntanch Konknni monis ubo zata. G?ykaranche he Konknni bhaxent tacho jiv asa. Tacho otmo asa. Vollokh asa. Identity asa. Konknni bhaxent G?ykaranchem girest oxem daiz asa. Punn aichea G?yantli Konknni pillgi hea girest daizacher thukot asa. G?y ani Konknni hea sombondacher visor ghalit asa. Tech khatir aicho G?ykar aplea uloupantlean, chalint-lean, nhespantlean pox'chimi sur ugddapo korta. Sogllech G?ykar tor utt'ttam-bostam G?y ani Konknnicho sombondh aple veglle chali-ritintlean tor oxech osokt korit ravle zalear, Konknni mati khait ravteli. Ani oxem zait zalear, kall sorta-sorta, anik ek sonvskrutay fukott na-nopoxchat zateli. Konknni bhas hi protek G?ykaranchi avoy-bhas. Konknni hi protek G?ykaracho atmo asa. He Konknni bhaxent G?ykaranchi identity (khaxeleponn) asa. Itlench nhoi, tor Konknni bhas hi dor eka G?ykaracho fatti-konno. Ho amcho fatti-konno he fuddem matui bagonk favona. Ho amcho otmo amich marun uddounk tor matui favona. Fuddem yetelea xekddeantuch nhoi, tor te poros-ui fuddem ho amcho fatti-konno nitt ubo dovrun, Konknnichi khori, niz seva-chakri korun amche sonvskrutayecho atmo jivo dovrunk amche bhitorli favo titli tank asa kay? 19/4/2008 (c) Prof. Jose Salvador Fernandes