News and pics by Ancy Paladka
Daijiworld Media Network

Panaji, Feb 20: The Third Konkani (Romi Lipi) Literary and Cultural festival held here yesterday at Prof Dr  livino Gomes Xar, B E Mendes Machi, D M K Vosro, Kala Academy. Enthusiastic Konkani (Romi Lipi) people enthralled in large numbers and almost filled the 1000 capacity Kala Akademy hall. The programme was organised by Dalgado Konkani Akademy (DKA). Chief guest Most Rev Fr Allwyn Baretto, the Bishop of Sindhudurg, said that Roman script is an universal script, Everyone in the world knows it, Thus it is easy Konkani to spread among all if we make use of the script. He also said that the Konkani is not the language of Goans alone but it is the language of the entire Konkan region. "I have four mothers, First mother who gave birth. Second heavenly mother Mary. Third mother nation. Fourth mother Konkani. I love all my mothers very much" he said.

The only lady member of Goa assembly from St Cruz constituency, Mrs Victoria Fernandes who is popularly known as 'Mami' said that we love our mothers in whatever her condition. In the same manner we need to love our mother language Konkani in whatever her status. The Goenkar who does not know to speak Konkani will lose his identity. Thus we all need to unite. In unity we can achieve anything. There is nothing strong as will of the people. It is not enough if we start asking equal status to Konkani in Roman script but we need to fight for it.

The welcome committee president Fr. Conceicao D'Silva said that the feathers of new hope have come out strongly for the Konkani people writing in Roman script. They have now come forward with much zeal to read, write and teach Konkani. Our elders did not get any financial backing for their Konkani works in Roman script, Still they worked hard. Portuguese banned speaking Konkani. They banned our marriage cultural activities like Voviyo, Vers. The academies did not give award to the Konkani written in Roman script. Now the Govt has started giving grant to DKA. It has ordered the Goa Konkani Akademy to work for Konkani written in Roman script also. The Govt has now given us a separte Tiatr Akademy. The Kala Akademy has now re-started giving awards to Konkani written in Roman script also.

Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, the president of Tiatr Academy delivered the key note address. He explained why one needs to give importance to his mother tongue. "If we stop speaking in Konkani then we will not remain as Goenkar" he said. "We faught to make Konkani state language. We won the opinion poll held on 16 Jan 1967. But the people manipulated the later processes and when the official language act was written, it was written as "Konkani is the Official Language and Marathi will be used for all official purposes"During the agitations 90% of the Konkani work was done by the Konkani people of Roman script, All of them were cheated. Since last 24 years Devnagiri is forcefully imposed on the people. Due to this the Konkani people have gone away from their mother tongue. Konkani is taught only in 133 of which 130 are managed by the church. Children refuse to study in Konkani as they do not have the option to study it in Roman script. It is very strange that only in Goa a  tudent can pass ssc without learning his state language Konkani." he lamented. "Thus it is the need of the hour to get equal respect, love and recognition to Roman script along with the Devnagiri. Provision need to be made to teach Konkani in Roman script." he urged.

Working president, Mr Bonaventure D'Pietro, said that "Some half baked people blow their own trumphet demanding one language, one script and one literature. Their days are over. Konkani people in different regions of India use different scripts to write Konkani. By doing this every Konkani person dress his Konkani mother with the sari of his own choice. How nice it is to see our mother in different colourful sari's?"

The DKA president Mr Premnand A Lotlikar said that outsiders, having come to Goa, learn Konkani language and try to impress the locals. But in reply we speak with them in Hindi. He also said that DKA got lots of stones in form of uncalled for criticism in the last three years. Having humbly collected those stones, DKA tried to strengthen its building. Thus the foundation has now become very strong. We have not stopped our fight to get equal recognition to Konkani in Roman script.

Mr Custodio Manuel Estibeiro, Bro Eusebio Vincent Miranda and Mr Benicio Vitorino Pereira were honoured for their remarkable service to Konkani in Roman script during the occasion by His Excellency the Bishop of Sindhudurg.

The programme begin with different cultural presentations by Rose Ferns and troupe. The cheif guests were taken procession. Brass band, Damaskachi Sotri (traditional umbrella) were the part of the procession. Walter Menezes and Brenda Menezes compered the programme. Mr Pio Esteves, the secretary of the organing committee deliverer the vote of thanks. The programme ended with the staging of tiatr "Tujea Moga Pasot" by Mr Rose Ferns.