Dears, The report by Godfrey Gonsalves below is factually correct. In addition: 1.Mr. wilson Mazarello wondered if the Congress men were unable to think for themselves and hence needed a "Vichar Vibhag" [Intellectual Cell] led by Adv. Uday Bhembre. He asked the Congress MLAs to introduce the Bill to Amend the Official Language Act, 1987 [A legally vetted 'draft' of the Bill has been circulated to all interested persons] or face the wrath of the Tiatrists and the people of Goa. 2. Mr. Ulhas Buyao said if the Congress MLAs do not support the Amendment now, they will have to face a tiatrist in each of the 40 constituencies during the next Assembly election. 3. Adv. Mike Mehta quoted the Franco-German story "The Last Lesson" saying that those who forget their mother tongue cannot remember their nation. He said that tiatrists like him are not second class citizens: they have kept the language alive even when there were no newspapers or books in Konkani. 4.Fr. Vasco do Rego,sj, remeinded the people that the faithfull, both clergy and the laity, for the church of God. A few priests do not represent the church; neither he nor those favouring Devanagri [CFD], and cannot express the "mind of the church". No government has the right to trample on the wishes of the people. In saying so in a public forum, I am only fulfilling my 'prophetic' role as a priest. If I do not fight against this injustice, I will be abdicating my responsibility and duty as a minister of God. 5. Fr. Kyriel de Souza,sfx, said " All Catholics are for Devanagri AND All Catholics are for Roman Script. We are all for Konkani" He asked his parishioners if they new anything about the group CFD and they all said "No!" I ask students who read prayers in the church if I should write them in Devanangri and they say " No, father, it is easier to read them in Roaman script'. Sionce all the children study English in school, they find the Roman script easier. 6. Fr. Pratap Naik,sj, said "I am not a 'poojari' who does only pooja. As a minister of god, I have also a prohetic role to proclaim the truth and fight against injustice. We have to get official recognition for Konkani to remove the inequality among the people. Seven persons have been martyred for the cause of Konkani. If I am martyred also, I will gladly be the eighth martyr for my mother tongue, Konkani." He reminded the people that Marathi is not the enemy of the Konkani speakers, the Marathi newspapers, specially Pudari have been very sympathetic to the cause. It was Sunaparant that was doing the damamge. In an article carried in the Sunaparant Subhash Velingkar has even questioned the role of St.Francis Xavier "Is he a saint or a satan?" is the title of the article. AMCHI BHAS AMKAM ZAI....ROMI LIPINT !!!! Miguel Braganza 9822982676 godfrey gonsalves <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in VascokarsUnited : In a move that has surely pulverised the "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade led by Uday Laxmikant Bhembre, Advocate, ex Independent, MLA of Margao, and present Convenor of 'Vichar Vibhag' of the Indian National Congress the newly constituted TIATRIST AKADEMi with convenor Prince Jacob held an impressive meeting today Tuesday 25th July, 2006 at the T B Cunha Hall at 10.30 a.m.
In his inaugural speech Prince Jacob reminded the audience that it was the Tiatrist fraternity that kept the language and script glowing even after the Official Language Act 1987 which placed a small 'definition' in the Act wherein Konkani " means in Devanagari script" was clandestinely introduced. He made it clear that despite the press distorting news and views -- he and the tiatrists are for both Devanagari and Roman script and they should give this fact an exclusive bold letter headlines. He virtually shredded Mr Uday L Bhembre into mince meat when he refuted his allegations that "Prince was too young to understand the nitty gritty of language and script issue". He reminded Mr Bhembre that during Mr Bhembre's election campaign it is the same Bhembre who took his support and moved with him around the constituency -- was he then not a kid? Prince jocularly remarked -- even at the height of the language agitation more specifically on the historic meet of 14th November 1986 that it was the tiatrists including himself that actually enthused the gathering before Mr Bhembre and his ilk came to make their "Bhashana" ----was he then a kid? (It may be recalled that Mr Bhembre took Rs 1000/ as car allowance from the KPA funds donated for the cause of Konkani every time he visited Panaji office this was clarified by Mr Mathany Saldhana MLA Cortalim. He has not denied this statement till date) As regards the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman he made it clear that the lay persons moved with the times -- the Latin Mass was done away with and the peoples language Konkani in Roman script took its place and continues till date. Whether in English or Konkani, Roman script is the Universal script and not only that of the Catholics as is made out to be. Prince Jacob, then read out the letter of appeal dated 22nd July 2006, on behalf of the 'Tiatrists Akademi' circulated to all the forty elected representatives of the Goa Legislative Assembly the Members of Parliament asking them to attend today's meeting and express their committment to bring about an amendment to the official Language Act 1987 to insert the words " /Roman" script in the definition of Konkani or face the wrath of the tiatrists at the hustings. We will have dharna's in front of the MLA's houses as the next part of the agitation and he also warned that 40 tiatrists may contest the next elections if the amendment was not brought about. Incidentally, it became clear only 16th/18th August 2005 following a letter received (by Mr Eric Ozario, President Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Managalore ) from the Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters ) New Delhi that the 10 member Advisory Board (1978 - 1983) for Konkani (each of the languages recognised as independent languages in India have a 10 member Advisory Board that decides in matters relating to the development etc of language www.sahitya.akademi.gov.in ) had at its meeting held on 21st November, 1981 at New Delhi UNANIMOUSLY recommended that DEVNAGARI SHOULD REMAIN the SCRIPT FOR KONKANI. This was the cancerous beginning of the votaries of "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade to slowly but surely eliminate Konkani in Roman script. These members also literally fooled the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman heirarchy and unfortunately got the certificate of merit as 'secularists' due to their friendly overtures. The members were a) Mr Ravindra Kelekar Convenor b) Mr Uday Laxmikant Bhembre c) Mr Chandrakant Keni d) Dr Manoharrai L Sardessai e) Mr Bakibab Borkar f) Dr D Sukhtankar g) Fr. William R Da Silva/ replaced later by Dr R V Pandit h) Fr Antonio Pereira i) Mr V. P Saldanha (Mangalore) j) Mr N Purushottam Mallya (Kerala) eight of them were hardcore votaries of "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade passed this damaging resolution. The saddest part is none of our elected Members of Parliament present or past ever knew of this vital and damaging document and some of them are not aware of this document till this date. Most of those familiar with Konkani in Roman script too were not aware of this damaging document. It is this resolution that needs to be changed by constituting a fresh band of members who have the interests of unity in language and diversity in script to bring about this change, viz to accept Konkani with any script Roman ,Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Devanagari, etc. This document was widely circulated to the Press and TV media personnel who covered the proceedings. Fr Pratap Naik, the Director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim, gave a brief history of Konkani. He reminded the audience, including over 143 priests, nuns, tiatrists and other well meaning citizens with the Goan interests dear to their hearts that a) Konkani was recognised as an independent language on 26th February, 1975 b) on 21st November, 1981 the advisory board for Konkani unanimously accepted the devanagari script as the natural script for Konkani c)on 4th February 1987 Konkani got its official recognition under the Goa, Daman and Diu official language Bill [which became an Act notified on 23 April, 1987,in the Official Gazette] d) Konkani was introduced in the 125 schools run by the Diocesan Board while only 6 privately managed schools introduced the same and none of the 1100 schools teaching Marathi made the change over. e) on 20 August, 1992, it was included in the VIII Scedule of the Indian Constitution (this schedule lists the languages recognised as Official languages in India -- visit www.goidirectory.nic.in -- President of India) Fr Naik reiterated the fact that the role of a priest was that of a prophet-- who has to ascertain what is good for his flock and not to be dictated by acts which are detrimental to others. This was the same refrain of several other priests viz Fr Vasco Rego,sj, ex Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica , Fr Eremito Rebello [of Konkan Railway agitation fame], Fr Kyriel de Souza Episcopal Vicar for Religious, and others who all pleaded not to make the script a divisive instrument rather they strongly felt that both the scripts should be accepted. " Chan'nneache Rati " fame Shri Ulhas Buyao blunted the votaries of "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade led by Mr Bhembre saying that they were afraid of the dominance of the lovers of Konkani in Roman script. Even after 19 years he said that these so called "pundits" wise man could not conduct their religious rites in Konkani devanagari script but were demanding of others not to conduct their religious rites in Roman script. He gave the instance where 60,000 copies of the Bible in Konkani Roman script was sold out before its publication. He said that it was time for the elected representatives to bring forth the amendment in the current session itself before Friday or 28th July 2006 or the last date of the Goa Legislative Assembly monsoon session. Mr Wilson 'Wilmix' Mazarelo, tiatrist and President of the Dalgado Konkani Academy, also reiterated that it was both the Minister for Town and Country Planning Mr Atanasio (Babush ) Monserrate and Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandary Mr Francisco (Mickky ) Pacheco who made a demand to introduce the bill in the current session itself at the last Cabinet meet. Mr Mazarello reminded the audience that without the recognition to Konkani in Roman script, the budgetted funds of the Government of Goa went only to the Konkani in Devanagari script. Ex Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, stated that while the votaries of Roman script for Konkani were called as anti-nationalists and the spectre of dividing the Goan votaries he said that the "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade did not succeed in getting the over 1100 Government- run Marathi primary schools to change the language[ to Konkani]. How can the same brigade support the roman script English, now that it is introduced in the Primary schools as one subject and reject the demand for Konkani in Roman script? he questioned. Others who spoke were tiatrist Mr Anil Kumar, Mr Joe Rose from Mumbai Mr Mike Metha, Advocate and tiatrist, reminded Mr Churchill Alemao MP who was seated alongside Dr Wilfred de Souza Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mauvin Godinho Mr Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco, Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandary, Mr Simon D Souza, ex-Deputy Speaker, and Mr Victor Gonsalves, ex MLA, that the battle for Konkani has not ended and he needs to steer the ship of ambition to the Harbour of success. Mr Mauvin Godinho remembered the guts and courage he had to face the multitude gathered at the Azad Maidan for the historic 14 November, 1986, meet as an young 'Youth Congress' leader when none of the INC MLAs had the courage to face the crowd to give an assurance that Konkani would be recognised as the official language. Dr Wilfred de Souza stated that it was the[now defunct] "Goa Congress" Party that had actually stood in the forefront of the Konkani movement and he was for the amendment even till date . His Nationalist Congress Party[NCP] is fully backing the amendment he said. Mr Churchill Alemao stated that immediately after the official language act was passed it was Adv.Radharao Gracias, then Independent MLA, who brought about the amendment to the offical Language Act in 1994 but it was turned down by Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane (Incidentally in the debate that preceded the introduction of the Amendment Bill --- Mr Rane called Mr Radharao Gracias a "rabid man" --- a copy of the debate transcript is now available with this writer) Mr Alemao therefore stated that to say that the issue was not taken up after the Act was passed in 1987 is incorrect. Meanwhile the issue of the priests who met the All India Congress Committee General Secretary, Ms Margaret Alva, at the International Centre-Goa at Dona Paula as a part of the votaries of "ONLY FOR KONKANI IN DEVANAGARI SCRIPT" brigade who clandestinely floated a group "CATHOLICS FOR DEVANAGARI" were Fr Mouzinho de Athaide, Fr Jaime Couto, Fr Lino Florindo, Fr Moreno de Souza and four others.. It is ironically that while the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in its ealier communique had stated that it stays clear off the script controversy these priests tried to impress the INC "Headmistress" during her recent visit to Goa (will it be her last after she takes over as Governor of any State in the next round) on the "view of the Church". Later, it is now confirmed that Ms Alva paid a courtesy visit to the Archbishop Patriach of Goa & Daman, Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao for a one to one meeting. Ms Alva is reported to have told Mr Churchill Alemao MP following this meet to see the report on the news media the next day. However Mr Alemao made it clear that he will fight tooth and nail for the amendment. Mr Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco gave an assurance that he would fully support the amendment. None of the other MLA's and Ministers attended the meet. SIDELIGHTS A) There was a small police bandobust at the entrance apparently sensing some fiery action B) The media spot light focussed when Mr Francisco M Pacheco entered and was about to sit near Mr Alemao but he preferred another seat C) Mr Pacheco had a word with his President NCP ,Dr Wilfred de Souza D) Sunaparant -- a Konkani in Devanagari script weekly which runs a less than 1500 circulation came in for bitter criticism for carrying some scurrilous writing fomenting communal tensions. E) There was an unanimous demand that Mr Uday Bhembre should be shunted out from the "Vichar Vibhag" F) Meanwhile according to a reliable information from the Legislature Secretariat before the end of the session on 31st July, 2006 a bill can be introduced by the Minister for Official Languages Mr Pratapsingh Raoji Rane CM of Goa and passed OR an ordinance can be brought after the session and later cleared by the Assembly. It is not known which course the Government will follow but with tiatrist --- having a record of seating and unseating MLAs, at least those in the Velhas Conquistas ,stand forewarned. As this meet ended another 'Marathi Bachao Andolan' was about to get underway to oppose the move of introducing English as one subject in the Konkani and Marathi schools. This meet is billed as a BJP warm up for the next husting and hence not much may be read in this meet given the fact that English as a subject has been welcomed by all and opposed only by those who had sent their children to English run schools in Goa India and abroad. FROM THE T B CUNHA HALL GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA 9822158584 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Viva Goa.Say it with feni. MIGUEL BRAGANZA, Mhapsa Horticulturist/ Editor --------------------------------- Find out what India is talking about on Yahoo! Answers India. SMS memory full? Store all your important SMS in your Yahoo! Mail. Register for SMS BAK UP now! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/attachments/20060725/58bb56c7/attachment.html _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org