VAMAN R. NAIK
Nearly four decades have passed since the Goa Official Language Act was enacted in 1987. The law declared Konkani in the Devanagari script as Goa’s official language and marked the culmination of a long struggle by thousands of Goans who fought for recognition of their mother tongue. For many, it was more than a legal measure; it was an affirmation of Goa’s identity.
Yet, despite its historic significance, the implementation of the Act has been slow and uneven. In fact, for almost 15 to 20 years after its enactment, the law remained largely in cold storage. While departments were created and committees formed, Konkani did not become the normal language of administration that many had hoped for. Even today, much of the government’s official communication continues to be issued in English, and citizens often find it difficult to access government information in the state’s official language.
This raises an important question: what can Goa learn from other Indian states that have implemented their official language laws more effectively?
Tamil Nadu adopted Tamil as its official language in 1956. The state gradually expanded its use in government offices through careful planning, staff training, translation facilities, and the creation of official terminology. The process took time, but there was a clear commitment to making Tamil the language of governance.
Karnataka followed a similar approach after Kannada became the official language in 1963. At the same time, it recognised the needs of linguistic minorities. The state demonstrated that promoting an official language and respecting diversity can go hand in hand.
Odisha provides another useful lesson. Although Odia was recognised as the official language in 1954, implementation remained weak for many years. It was only after sustained public pressure that the government introduced monitoring mechanisms and accountability measures. The lesson is simple: laws do not implement themselves. Governments must be willing to measure progress and enforce compliance.
Among all these examples, Maharashtra offers perhaps the most important lesson for Goa. The Maharashtra government understood that a language cannot become a language of administration unless it has the necessary intellectual and institutional support. It invested heavily in the preparation of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, terminology banks, and translation resources. Technical, legal, scientific, and administrative vocabulary was standardised and made available to government employees and the public. This created confidence in the use of Marathi across departments and
educational institutions.
Kerala also offers valuable lessons because, in many ways, it resembles Goa. Both states are relatively small, have high literacy levels, and are deeply connected to the outside world through tourism, migration, and the service economy.
Malayalam was declared Kerala’s official language in 1969. Over the years, the state steadily expanded its use in administration, local self-government, and public services. Importantly, Kerala embraced technology. Citizens today can access many government services in Malayalam through digital platforms. At the same time, English continues to play an important role in higher education, business, and international communication. This shows that promoting a regional language does not mean rejecting English.
There is another aspect of the debate that deserves attention. Thousands of Goans who have migrated for employment to Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala and other parts of India have willingly learned the official languages of those states. They have adapted to local linguistic realities and, in doing so, have contributed to the success of those states’ language policies. The same cannot always be said of many non-Goans working in Goa. While nobody expects complete fluency, it is reasonable to expect those working in government offices and public-facing institutions to acquire a working knowledge of Konkani. Respect for the official language should be a two-way process.
What lessons emerge for Goa? First, the government must make Konkani visible in everyday administration. Official notifications, forms, citizen services, websites and public information should increasingly be available in Konkani. The Official Gazette should also be published regularly
in Konkani.
Second, government employees must be trained and encouraged to use Konkani in official work. A language policy without trained personnel remains only a policy on paper. Third, Goa should launch a major programme for the development of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, glossaries and terminology databases.
Fourth, technology should be used as an ally. Translation software, digital dictionaries and language databases can make Konkani more accessible and easier to use in administration.
Finally, implementation should be reviewed regularly. Every department should be required to report on the use of Konkani in its functioning. What gets measured gets done. Goa already has the law. It has had the law for nearly 40 years. The real challenge now is to ensure that the spirit of the law is reflected
in practice.
(The writer is former principal of Srinivassa Sinai Dempo College of Commerce & Economics, Cujira.)
