ROMI KONKANI V/S NAGRI KONKNNI.
The Konkani language issue currently brewing in Goa is not between Marathi and Konkani but between Romi script Konkani and Nagri script Konknni. The language issue in favour of Konknni was already settled some years back when Goa Government recognized Konknni as an official language of Goa thereby facilitating conferring of Statehood on Goa because States in India are formed on the basis of languages, one State - one language. Since this issue is already settled for good yet Parrikar and his fellow Marathivadis are still raking this issue. Parrikar, his BJP and MGP including Marathi oriented Congressmen like Ranes, Narvenkars, Khalaps and their cohorts will never keep us in peace. The language issue Konknni versus Marathi was already settled and as such there is no room left for making Marathi as one of the official languages of Goa on par with Konkani.
What is important now is to settle the dispute between Romi Konkani and Nagri Konknni once and for all. This dispute arose because for official language status only Nagri script is recognized and given preferential treatment while Romi script was left out. As a matter of fact, overwhelming majority of Goans are promoters and supporters of Romi Konkani who were the backbone of Konkani movement 20 years back. Overwhelming majority of the people who came on to the streets in Panjim in support of Konkani and gathered at Azad Maidan Panjim for the cause of Konkani were the Romi script followers of Konkani. All the Konkani martyrs who faced martyrdom from the hands of Hindu Marathi supporters were the followers of Romi Konkani. Among those who faced martyrdom for the cause of Konkani in Agacaim and Borda Margao, there was not a single Hindu nor any Naik, Mauzo, Kelekar, Bhembro and Ximbro.
The sacrifices made by the Christians for the cause of Konkani language cannot be just thrown out by immature and intellectually backward Pundalik Naik and his equally one sided colleagues. If men like Pundalik Naik, Mauzo and others of their likes are emitting little shine in Konkani circle it is only because in their Nagri camp they are the only ones who dominate the scene, they are like one eyed men amongst the blinds. They are like frogs in the pond. During the language agitation I went down to Goa to participate in this agitation and on my initiative we in the Gulf lands of Kuwait immediately collected and sent almost a lakh of rupees for organizing that big Konkani Rally and Meeting at Azad Maidan Panjim. When I went to meet the Konkani Porjecho Avaz (KPA) stalwarts I was first introduced to Pundalik Naik who was the head of the KPA. But while speaking to him I immediately discovered how weak this man was, how communal man he was like all his other Nagri colleagues. Then I went a step further in my research on these leaders and got an information that Pundalik Naik is a good “Nattkist” but suffering from ancestral inferiority complex. He is o.k. amongst the feeble people and if at all he was entrusted with the task of the leadership of KPA it was not because of his leadership qualities which he lacked but only to please the “Bahujan Samaj” from where he is come.
This was the trick of Nagri Hindu Bamonn who are dominating the Konknni scene in Goa and imposing their mode of Konknni on us as if they are our masters and we are their slaves. They claim their brand of Konknni is correct but I don’t know who gave them the certificate to prove that their brand alone is the correct Konknni. I don’t know who gave them the authority to say their Konknni is right and what we speak is wrong Konkani. In the name of their brand of Konknni, they introduced Marathi in our Konkani and made us to swallow it like Lolipop. We have to oppose them and their Sanskritik and Marathik type of Konknni. For this type of cunningness nobody like them. None of the Hindu Bamonn in Nagri Konknni circle enjoys the trust of the masses because they are known to be crooks and cunning. See how Uday Bhembro demanded Rs. 1000/- allowance per trip to Panjim from Margao for attending the KPA meetings when he was a part of KPA. As a member of KPA and promoter of Konknni, he should have given honorary service for Konkani cause. But, no, he demanded money. This money came from where?
This money that KPA gave as allowance to Uday Behmbro came from us Kuwaitkars. To collect funds for Konkani cause we made lot of sacrifices in Kuwait. We sent the money for KPA not to fritter away after Uday Bhembro but KPA stalwarts spent it frivolously and because I was asking “cont ixeop” of the money we sent from Kuwait and exposing the amount we sent from Kuwait, some of the rascals amongst Konknnivadis started showing their anger to me. One of them even threatened me but when I showed that I too am equally ready for the kill, gradually the situation was calmed down. In the name of Konkani lot of money sent from Kuwait by Romivadis was misused by our leaders. Nagrivadis should thank Romivadis and should reward them for shouldering major responsibility of fighting for the cause of Konkani. It is we the Christian Romi Konkanivadis who kept Konkani alive till today. We must now not stop in our fight for getting due recognition to Romi Konkani. If Marathi is brought on par with Konkani, Nagrivadis will have to say bi-bi to Nagri Konknni and will have to go to Ratnagiri because in this case Marathi will surely swallow Nagri Konknni exactly the way MGP was swallowed by BJP.
Nagrivadis and men like Pundalik Naik, be careful. In this fight for the recognition of Romi Konkani, we are not going to be the major losers but you Nagrivadis will be the real losers. For so long we remained silent but now the time is come for all Romivadis to fight for our rights. Konkani is not the monopoly of few Hindu Nagrivadis whose allegiance is more towards Marathi. These Nagrivadis want Nagri Konknni only to gain material benefits for them otherwise they have no love for Konknni. We have to fight against them. Our major enemy is not only from Marathi segment but also from Nagri segment. These Nagrivadis perform their religious rites and cultural activities in Marathi and talking big as if they are the protectors of Konkani. They have no right to dictate their terms to us. We know what is good and what is bad for us. Our ”Purvoz” are not come from Ghanttar with Marathi ancestry, with Marathi culture, with Marathi tradition and with Marathi history.
We have been listening to the threats issued by Pundalik Naik and his colleagues in Nagri circle against Romivadis for demanding equal status for Romi Konkani also on par with Nagri Konknni. On behalf of all my friends, colleagues, supporters, followers and all the like minded Goans spread all over the world, I warn Pundalik Naik and his colleagues to desist from issuing such threats. "Heo domkeo tumchea Ajeak diat". We are not asking to withdraw recognition for Nagri Konknni, we are not against Nagri Konknni but we are asking only what is due to us. It is our birthright to ask for our rights. Goans especially Christians who are the followers of Romi Konkani must now raise their voice in support of Romi Konkani and condemn Pundalik Naik and his followers for denying us our rights. Most of the Nagrivadis are anti-Christians. One of them a cunning Konknno Bamonn earlier even called Christians as “Dukor” because we are pork eaters. But the same Nagrivadi Bamon “Dukor” was regularly eating pork Sorpotel at the place of his Christian “Mahar” concubine. The issue of Nagri Konknni and Marathi in Goa have got much deeper meaning than just the language issue. It is a very communal issue. By suppressing Romi Konkani the Hindus in Goa want to weaken Christians from Goa. By suppressing Romi Konkani the Hindu Nagrivadis are waging a war against Goan Christians. Once, the same Nagri Hindu Bamonn “Dukor” even said in Konknni “Are! Tankam (meaning = for Christians) zata zalear porot Hindu dhorman bhitor haddunk tozvit korat”. Not a single known Nagrivadi nor Marathivadi from BJP or MGP openly condemned the recent killings of Christians in Orissa. The issue of Romi Konkani and Nagri Konknni is very much linked with their respective religious communities. We have to protect ourselves minus them by all means. Romivadi Goans spread all around the globe must come out openly in support of Romi Konkani. In this fight we stand to lose nothing but only stand to gain and surely victory will be ours.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
