News: Margao correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network – Margao (VA)

Margao, Jul 21: “The Sahitya Akademi awards should be made available to eminent writers in Konkani whether they write in Romi, Devnagri or Kannada scripts”, said Eduardo Faleiro, commissioner for NRI affairs on Tuesday July 20.

Faleiro was speaking at the presentation ceremony of Gulab awards organized by the Fr Freddy J Da Costa Memorial Trust at the Grace Church Hall, here.

He said that if Konkani writers in Goa agreed to his suggestion then he would speak to the Sahitya Akademi authorities and he assured that the Akademi would have no objection to grant their awards to deserving writers independently of the script.

The prestigious Gulab awards were presented to four eminent personalities.  The Gulab Man of the Year-2009 was presented to A R Nagvekar, chairman Ann Institute, Romi writer of the year award was presented to Felix D’Cruz, female singer of the year award was awarded to Roma Fernandes, best male singer of the year award was presented to Sidhnath Buyao while Tiatrist of the Year award was presented to comedian Ambe.

Faleiro while appreciating Fausto da Costa, editor of Gulab for his excellent magazine said, “For the past 50 years, Konkani is being taught only in devnagri script in all schools in Goa including diocesan schools and even in the seminars where catholic priests are trained. As a result most Goans can now read Konkani in Devnagri script”.

He further said, “ Even before Liberation in June 1961, the Pilar Society had started the Fr Agnel Prathmik Vidhylaya in Curchorem teaching Konkani in Devnagri script. He said there were 37 students in the first year and the schools continue with increased number of students. However, surprisingly, only Romi script is used in the liturgy of the Catholic churches in Goa. Elsewhere in the country, national scripts are used by the Catholic Church.  For instance, in the churches in Mangalore only Kannada script is used for Konkani”. He called upon the Catholic Church in Goa to circulate their written material during religious services in Konkani both in Romi and in Devnagri scripts.

Domingo Araujo, president of Kala Mogi, Fr Manuel Gomes, and professor S M Borges were the guests of honour.Editor of Gulab Fausto Da Costa earlier welcomed the gathering and Marcos Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks.