CHRISTIANS IN GOA ARE ROBBED. KONKANI.

CHRISTIANS IN GOA ARE ROBBED - KONKANI.


It is now becoming increasingly certain almost 22 years after the Official Language Act 1987 was passed with the sly insertion of sec 2© -- Konkani ( means in devanagari script) that it was only the Saraswat Brahmins who have benefited and continue to benefit from this Act. Likewise the non Saraswat Brahmins too owing to the insertion of desirable knowledge of Marathi.

A look at the staff complement in the teaching institutions like Goa University etc the Goa Konknni Akademy, the Directorate of Art and Culture, the Kala Academy, Doordarshan , All India Radio, almost all Government offices the Saraswat Brahmins have found employment prospects for their RAW (read relatives and wives) though just 3% of the population. Catholics conversant with the English script have been nearly eliminated from the police force and other Government offices. Ironically this is despite the fact that Catholic electorate in the Velhas Conquistas of Salcete, Mormugao, Bardez and Ilhas (now Tiswadi) talukas are responsible for electing successive secular Governments in the State. It is now either the Saraswat Brahmins or the non Saraswats Brahmins from the Novas Conquistas of Ponda Sanguem Canacona Bicholim Pernem Quepem, or Sattari that fit in at second place.

With almost 14 MLA’s in the ruling dispensation of a minimum of 21 out of 40 needed to rule the State being pitted against one another they have only allowed this dismal situation for the Catholic community to flourish.

It is the Catholic community that earned Goa its unique identity and admired the world over for its reach East and west traditions . It is this community which has been in the forefront of the Opinion Poll of 16th January, 1967, the Ramponkar Movement, the KPA - language agitation of 1986, the Nylon 6’6, the Konkan Railway route, the Meta strip, the PDA’s , the Regional Plans, the demand for implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendment to the Constitution giving powers to Village Panchayats and Municipalites the SEZ’s mega projects etc .

It is not that these Catholics want “NO DEVELOPMENT “ as is made out to be by the Saraswat Brahmins; indeed the vociferous protests is to ensure sustainable development and maintain the identity of Goa and Goans.

The Catholic community has also surged the Bank deposits, through the toil and sweat of their brow overseas which has helped the traditional “posorkars” general stores traders graduate to “ self titled industrialists” and refurbish their image in western outlook relegating their traditional dhoti/coat The monetary prowess of the Catholics has rendered all Government postings in Velhas Conquistas “lucrative” because the bureaucracy throws the hat for any service rendered and get their coffers full

Catholics realize that the time to strike and strike deep before the community is eliminated from the Goan sphere. 2009 promises just that if one is to believe the tremors
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This article “ Too soon to rejoice “by this writer appeared on the Bombay (now Mumbai) national daily INDEPENDENT on 10.09.1992 and later was reluctantly published by the Goa based Herald daily on 1.10.1992 under the caption “ Myth and Reality of Konkani “ The things to come were forseen by this writer almost 16 years ago and in similar letters to editor in local dailies just after OLA 1987. Therefore to state that to agitate is too late is a misnomer, the writings on the wall were clear the date the OLA was passed. It is only that some desire to beat them others preferred to join them .
Please read on
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Too soon to rejoice

The inclusion of Konkani in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution brings no immediate benefits to Goa ’s Catholics who use the Roman script says Godfrey Gonsalves
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The inclusion of Konkani in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution has fulfilled the ambition of many who speak this language. But the benefits of this may reach the 30 percent Catholics in Goa only by the turn of this century, despite their active participation, emotionally and financially for the cause of Konkani.

Konkani was in use in Goa much before the advent of the Portuguese in 1510. Its earliest forms are found in the Hal-Kannada script. The Portuguese believed in proselytization- that religion of the King should be that of its subjects . Mass conversions to Christianity got underway. Later in (1774-1812) the infamous Inquisition resulted in the persecution of Hindus, banning of the religious practices and the destruction of temples. Konkani literature was destroyed. Christian teachings were written and propagated in Konkani using the Roman script and also taught in parochial schools . In other parts of Kerala and Karnataka where the language is spoken its script is in Malayalam Kannada and even in Urdu.

As the movement for liberation from Portuguese rule gained momentum most of the 96 Saraswat Brahmin families hitherto persecuted by the Portuguese and foced to flee vowed to return to their home land and regain supremacy . The idea allegedly mooted clandestinely to achieve this objective was to promote the Konkani language, not in the existing Roman script but in the Devanagari script of the Aryans and to eliminate Catholic dominance prevalent during Portuguese rule 1510 –1961.

A resolution to this effect was moved at the first All India Konkani Parishad held in Karwar in 1939. Shenoi Goembab alias Vaman Varde Valaulikar was the doyen of this movement (1877 – 1946) in Goa .

In 1954 the Sahitya Academy was constituted and 15 languages were recognized after taking into consideration their numerical commercial political and cultural importance. Konkani was not among these 15. It was only in 1960 that Konkani was approved as a language by the Academy alongwith five others.

In 1962 at the second All India Konkani Parishad held at Margao and the first in Goa after liberation a resolution was to include Konkani in the VIII schedule of the Constitution was adopted. A Konkani school in devanagari script was established in Margao which was the only such school until 1990.

For political reasons particularly to fulfill its desire to merge Goa with Maharashtra the local government disputed the independent status of Konkani and said it was only a Marathi dialect. An Opinion Poll in 1967 put paid to the Governments intentions for a merger and much to its embarrassment Konkani was recognized as an independent language by the Sahitya Academy in 1976.

The demand for statehood stepped up in 1986 after a long gestation period and need for a single official language was keenly felt for states could be carved out only on linguistic basis. Therefore the movement for recognistion of Konkani as the sole official language gathered momentum alongside the demand for Statehood. But contrary to the expectations of the Saraswat Brahmins who were opting for Konkani in the Devanagari script which they alone were conversant with the Catholics demanded at least a 15 year transition period to switch from the Roman to the Devanagari script.

The will of the Saraswat Brahmins prevailed upon the Catholic leaders of the movement. They convinced the Catholic leaders that they should forfeit their claims because the Hindu masses , non Brahmin (Bahujan Samaj) hitherto politically wedded to Marathi would find it easy to accept Konkani as an official language if accepted in Devanagari script. The Catholics accepted and soon relented. Thus Konkani in the devanagari script was accorded the official language status in 1987.

But that the intentions of the Saraswat Brahmins were misconceived became evident when the new education policy making primary education in the mother tongue of the child compulsory found Catholcis being given stepmotherly treatment, despite loud protestations. Further though the Objects and reasons of the Official Language Act 1987 clearly state athat 95 % of the people of Goa speak Konkani its teaching was implemented only by the conversion of 199 private and 45 government English schools into Konkani medium schools. Meanwhile over 800 Marathi schools continued to impart education in Marathi defeating the object of the Act.

Now with the inclusion of Konkani in the VIII schedule of the Constitution it is only the Saraswat Brahmins community which has achieved its dream mooted in 1939 and has thereby successfully avenged persecution at the hands of the Portuguese. Today its members who form 3.5% of the population can find ready employment in educational government services and also have access to literature and journalism. Hence celbrations have been subdued despite the loud newspaper headlines. Manu-smriti which propounds the evilsof caste based inequalities clearly exists to this day. (end)
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in

Tiatrists to watch in "KUWAIT SODDUN VETANA"

Seen in the picture are: Bab Agnelo - Bai Riana & Bab Salu Faleiro.

Among the local tiatrists who will surely create a good impact of their artistic prowers in the forthcoming Tiatro "KUWAIT SODDUN VETANA" on 16th of this month at Hawally A/C Hall at 3.30 pm will be the above three. They will participate in the play as well as in rendering songs. New entrant to Konkani Stage Bai Riana will dazzle the audience by playing a very interesting role in the play while comedian Salu Faleiro as usual will attract lot of attention from the audience by his modern day comedy and Bab Agnelo render good songs with his sweet voice.

According to the organisers, all the actors are in full preparadeness doing their rehearsals with rigid timetable. They are all set to give their best on Friday 16th of this month in "KUWAIT SODDUN VETANA".

ALL ARE REQUESTED TO BOOK THEIR PASSES IN ADVANCE TO AVOID DISAPPONTMENT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEAST AT ANJADIV.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEAST AT ANJEDIV‏.

From: godfrey gonsalves (gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in)

Cc: shantaram.naik@sansad.nic.in; cm@goa.nic.in

The Archbishop of Goa and Daman has been requested by this writer on 31/12/2008 via email to intimate well in advance the authorities at INS Kadamba at Arga Uttar Kannada Karnataka of the programme for the customary Feast of Nossa Senhora de Brotas on 2nd February, 2009 on the Anjediv Island off Canacona Taluka.

To ensure that there is no overcrowding of the Island on the Feast Day, two Masses are suggested to be held one at 1030 hrs and the other at 1430 hrs.

In view of the Island being a restricted area security measures are needed ; hence it is MANDATORY that all visiting faithful should be instructed to carry photo-identity cards .

The Naval authorities on the Island will be required to make arrangements for cleaning the precincts of the Church ( which in any case they are expected to maintain as per the terms of the order dated December, 1987 on the handover of the Island for use of the Sea Bird ) safe drinking water., mobile toilets, and to permit a half day visit preceeding the Feast day to enable the priests from Goa to make arrangements for the Mass on the Feast day.

Since 2004 the INS Kadamba at Arga on some pretext of training excercise or construction activities etc were denying the faithful to celebrate the Feast . This is clearly a violation of the agreed terms . The Govt of Goa has in a letter to this writer reiterated the committments that the Navy should honour viz celebration of the customary feast not only on 2nd Feb but also on 4th Oct Feast of St Francis de Assisi in the Chapel on the Anjediv Island now lying in partial ruins (visit www.colaco.net for details)

In keeping with the Order of precedence it would also be appropriate for the Archbishop to ensure that the letter is simultaneously addressed to the Union Minister for Defence, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance.

Meanwhile this writer will visit Karnataka Vidhan Soudha next week to request the Chief Minister of Karnataka through the newly elected MLA of Karwar ( a son-in-law of our ex Minister for Sports & ex MLA Canacona Mr Sanjay Bandekar ) to make all security and transport arrangements for the faithful entering the State to the Island.

The Rajya Sabha MP Mr Shantaram L Naik who has been pursuing this issue at the National level will also be requested to pursue the issue with New Delhi .

GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,BORDA,
MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in