After reading subject article by GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES , one of the item reminded me of an incident it happened some years back. There was All India Konkani Samelan at Sanklli and Late Dr. Rebello took me along for attending this samelan where I introduced my self as member of Kuwait Konknni Kendr from Kuwait. During the recess time, I took some courage to confront/question in our meeting with Mr. Tomazinho Cardozo then was a strong member of Goa Congress, I asked him why Dr. Willy D'Souza, then Leader of Goa Congress ( a break away faction of Indian National Congress) did not recommend Konkani in Roman Script also while making Official Language of Goa? to which he told me it was not done so as you know the Politicians.
It is worth reminding, although Goa Congress was a rebel faction of Congress at that time, INC leadership at Delhi had a soft corner and still respected and considered Goa Congress Leadership as representatives of Roman Script lovers mostly from Christian population and therefore Dr. Willy was specially summoned to Delhi to know what was his intention towards making the Konkani as official language of Goa and what scripts was to adopt. The devil-traitor took charge of Dr. Willy's soul that time and he agreed and accepted the Devanagri script only instead of agreeing the Roman Script also. That time the INC leaders must have remembered what Nehru have said about Goans after India took over Goa i.e. "Ajib heim he logh Goa-ka".
Delhi Congress Leadership has deliberately summoned Dr. Willy even though they broke from IN Congress and formed a new party called Goa Congress because they have love and sympathy towards Goans of Romi lovers and not to do injustice to this faction by not accepting the Roman Script and making only Devanagri script as the official language of Goa.
I strongly believe that had Dr. Willy recommended and strongly supported the Roman Script, INC leaders who were ruling India at that time would love to agree so because that was the reason they specially called Willy to Delhi even though he was a rebel Congress leader. Goans who wanted the Roman script also to be accepted as script of official language lost their very dear cause only because of Goa Congress and their leadership.
Mr. Tomazinho who now think he is a fighter for Roman Script had no acceptable response to my question and instead he told me this is politics and anything can happen in politics no matter how much dear is the cause for Konkani Roman Script lovers. And I smelt rat in his response. Enemy of Konkani in Roman Script to be one of the scripts of the Official language of Goa may not be only the Devanagri Sript stalwart but Dr. Willy and Goa Gongress leaders themselves.
Roman Script lovers should therefore hold the leaders of Goa Congress specially the Christian MLAs fully responsible for this treason. It is because of them we lost a very dear cause, cant this be changed at this stage or does it require a revolution?
Thanks.
Elvino Rodrigues,
Navelim - Goa.
