Special Correspondent
Panaji
Well-known lawyer, social activist and former MLA Radharao Gracias on Monday said the perception that Goans are united is a myth, stating that the existing divisions among Goans are clearly reflected in the biased treatment meted out to Konkani in Roman script as compared to Konkani in Devanagari script.
“Furthermore, if Goans were unified then there would be no Opinion Poll,” he said, questioning that if Goans had ever shown solidarity, why 44 per cent had wanted Goa to merge with Maharashtra.
Gracias was speaking as the chief guest at the release of the book ‘My Journey-1, The Betrayal of Konkani in Roman Script’ by Tomazinho Cardozo at the Kala Academy. The book has been published by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi.
Gracias said that in Nagaland the Nagamese language is written in Roman script, as are Mizo in Mizoram and Khasi in Meghalaya, and all are recognised by the Constitution. He said Goa is divided into two groups, with the majority preventing Konkani in Roman script from receiving its due place.
“The Official Language Act for Goa states that Konkani in the Devanagari script is the sole official language of Goa.However, the Act provides for the use of Marathi for all or any official purposes,” Gracias said, adding that this was done as scriptures, religious texts, devotional songs, dramas and other cultural entities of Hindus are in Marathi.
He questioned why the same provision does not apply to Christians, stating that religious Mass, Church proceedings, fados and tiatrs are all conducted and performed in Konkani in Roman script. “Are we not Goans, are we not full-fledged citizens of the country,” he questioned.
Gracias recalled that tiatr artists had protected Goa from being merged into Maharashtra, but today have no respect in society.
He also raised the issue of the absence of young people to carry forward the movement for Konkani in Roman script.
Noted Konkani author Vincy Quadros said Konkani journalism began in 1889, Konkani tiatr started in 1892, and the first Konkani novel was written in 1911, all in Roman script, which makes it the real Konkani.
Quadros also requested Cardozo to write an unbiased account of the Opinion Poll, stating that it has largely been described through the vision of a few, with many defects in those descriptions.
Cardozo, in his address, said his book is a historical document that records the injustice meted out to Konkani in Roman script.
