Media Release

Vasco, Aug 21: “Preserving Goan identity and asserting presence of Konkani speaking population in the State should be our first priority,” said Simon D’Souza, former Goa Deputy Speaker and appealed to the community of global Goans to deliberate on how to save Goa and Goa’s uniqueness from getting fully disintegrated.

He was speaking at a programme organized in the port town to observe Goa Day. D’Souza further said that the liberation of Goa offered us opportunity for growth on economic and social fronts but not at the cost of losing our cultural identity.

“We will be nowhere in the world if we ignore existing situation where we find no age old Goan atmosphere in Goa. Moreover, the activities of the land grabbers have put us into doldrums” added D’Souza.

Noted Konkani poet and former director of Doordarshan Yusuf A. Sheikh said that no any community in the world survived which lost its identity.

He said that the Konkani language has given distinct identity to Goa and it attained tremendous strength when, on August 20, it was included in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India. All its strength should be put to our advantage and our cultural life should bloom with its usage, he added. A week stand towards Konkani language would weaken Goan society, he added further.

Sheikh complimented Rene Barreto who took initiative to observe August 20 as Goa Day all over the world. His work has brought global Goans together and we need to support him wholeheartedly, he said.

Adelmo Fernandes said that it was a great feeling that Goa Day was being observed globally. The feel good factor inherent in the celebration would certainly reunite Goans and also instill sense of responsibility, he said. Fernandes further said that it was time to give lifting hand to one another and enjoy the fruits of unity. While planning for future, we should give stress upon inclusive growth, he added.

Vishwanath Sawant, former information officer who is also a violin artist said that he felt proud that Goan music is cherished all over the world. He complimented all Goans who have established themselves firmly in different disciplines in different parts of the world and appealed to NRIs to respond to the call to save Goa from getting looted by vested interests.

Ashok R. Chodankar, editor of 'Konkan Divo' praised the writers and poets who enriched Konkani literature and paid homage to the tiatrists who kept the language alive while regaling the masses. John Fernandes, ex Vasco councilor said that it is only the Konkani language that gives a soothing effect to a Goan mind. The programme was also attended by Anil Kamat Shankhwalker, Clerancio Furtado, Jack de Vasco, Gopinath Shah and others.