The real push for the Konkani movement for its recognition started with
the formation of “NOVEM GOEM” movement in late seventies when members of Novem
Goem Pratishthan, a Trust formed to establish two Konkani Dailies in Goa, one
Romi and the other Nagri, travelled on
foot all over Goa to ask donation for this project. It took them about a month to complete this
exercise. The freedom fighter and
Konknnivadi, Gurunath Kelekar from Margao
initiated this movement in co-operation with 7 prominent learned Trustees. Their
target was to start a Romi Daily when collection of one lakh of rupees is
achieved and Nagri Daily when 5 lakhs are achieved. The task of initiating this
move of Novem Goem in Kuwait was given to me and we Kuwaitcars got together and
collected about 5 lakhs which amount was sent to NGP Trust in Goa.
As in Goa, Kuwait too thru this movement, Goans joined together for the
common goal and remained united by discarding all their minor differences. In
this process the biggest achievement was the unity between Romi and Nagri
proponents in particular and Goans in general.
Though there are a few Nagri Konknnivadis in Kuwait yet it was nice to see
them joining hands with the Romivadis in Kuwait and thus creating a strong bond
between the two segments.
Then in the name of Konkani came the formation of KPA to give final push
for the recognition of Konkani and thru this KPA the greatest achievement came
was the establishment of strong unity between the Romi and Nagri camps for the
common goal. It must be remembered that
in the initial stages Nagrivadis in KPA pleaded with the Romivadis not to talk
of the script at that point of time and at an appropriate time they will
satisfy both the camps. Though
ultimately Romivadis were betrayed when Nagri Konknni was imposed on Goa as an
official language yet Romivadis did not forcefully revolt over this betrayal
thus maintaining the bond unexploded
between the two camps.
Now thru the latest imbroglio of MOI issue, not only the propagandists of
anti-English education at primary level but even the anti-Romi Konknnivadis
joined together to let lose their ire against Romivadis, Church and its
schools. Equating Church with FORCE is wrong, FORCE movement is organized by an
independent body not attached to the Church.
In the name of Konkani we came together but now regretfully in the name
of English we are devided. It is a pity
even after so many decades since English left from India, we are still under the bondage of English and
this bondage will never leave from India. In this whole episode the rift
between Romivadis and Nagrivadis is widened.
Can anyone bridge this rift?
The very Nagrivadis with whom I associated to promote Konkani cause are
acting like my enemies. The very
Nagrivadis who along with me received Lathis on our back from Rane’s policemen
are keeping a distance from me because I am from Romi camp, they wanted my
association then to support Konkani movement from Kuwait for the benefit of
Nagri Konkani only? No, for Romi too. Because of Konkani we joined together and
because of Konkani we are devided now?
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
