It is 27 years now since in the name of recognizing Konkani
by the Goa government in both the scripts – Romi & Nagri -, Konknni has
been recognized in Nagri script only. According to the information, the Goa
government has granted this recognition also with the silent nod of KPA that
favoured only the Nagri script and NOT the
Romi script.
Konkani Porjecho Avaz (KPA) was a body comprising members
from both the segments of Konkani – Romi as well as Nagri. This body was formed
under the skippership of hardcore Nagrivadi Pundalik Naik. In fact besides him
there were others also hardcore Nagrivadis in KPA. In fact they were more
hardcore than Pundalik Naik but since Pundalik Naik was coming from Non-Brahmin
segment, the more hardcore Nagrivadis installed Pundalik Naik as head of KPA to
get better and more acceptance to KPA especially from the masses though he was
thru remote control guided by the more hardcore Nagrivadis inside and outside
the KPA.
During this period I was in Kuwait where beside my job I was
also promoting the cause of Konkani along with other friends and colleagues of
mine. We from Kuwait were financing Konkani movement in Goa by pouring lakhs of
rupees and since KPA was on the forefront to fight for Konkani, we financed KPA
also. In fact when Damodar Mauzo a
member of KPA pleaded with us to help finance the big Rally and Meeting at Azad
Maidan Panjim we sent almost a lakh of rupees from Kuwait for this event. Besides, money also started flowing thru other
sources from Kuwait including to Goan politicians for this event in Goa.
Then when hectic activities were going on for the final push
for this movement, I came on vacation to Goa and as a General Secretary of
Kuwait Konknni Kendr that was instrumental in promoting the cause of Konkani in
Kuwait, I was welcomed by the KPA members in their midst most warmly. Then I participated in number of Rallies in
Panjim in support of Konkani and even received Lathis from the Ghantti
Hawaldars from Rane government. Then I participated in the Hunger Strike conducted
at Azad Maidan Panjim starting with 5 days continuously by Datta Naik, Dilip
Borkar and Dioniz Diniz whom I also joined on the 3rd day and this
was followed by the Chain Hunger Strike for a long time.
On the eve of my return back to Kuwait, at Keni Hotel Panji,
KPA invited me as an observer only for their crucial meeting which was attended
besides other members, by Tomazinho Cardoso, Erasmo Sequeira, Mauwin Godinho,
Mathanay Saldanha and chaired by Pundalik Naik. During this particular meeting
I have observed that the Nagri camp in KPA was wielding strong power to sway
the decisions in their favour, whatever those decisions may be. Romivadis were acting like slaves of
Nagrivadis without being firm on Romi script though outside they may say
anything. Even the late firebrand Mathanay Saldanha was not firm in his view on
Romi script. Erasmo Sequeira inspite of
being the seasoned supporter of Romi cause was just silent while the major part of
the talk was done by the Nagrivadis.
Whatever they may be but one thing I noticed in some Romivadi
members of KPA an enormous amount of inferiority complex and in few the ancestral
inferiority complex which gave them the sense of accepting them as lower than
the others. And here, the cunning Nagrivadis from KPA capitalized. Nagrivadis recognized
that there was not a single hardcore Romivadi in their midst to fight valiantly for Romi
cause. Besides, the cunning Nagrivadis
in KPA created a hoax by putting fear into the minds of Romivadis that there
may not be a possibility for the recognition of Konkani if both the scripts are
indicated, hence priority must go for Nagri.
To oppose this hoax there was not a single hardcore Romivadi in KPA. For
this reason Nagrivadi scored an off side goal against Romi Konkani while
Romivadis watched this goal as spectators.
From here what I noticed, because I had no voice there in KPA
being only an observer, I showed my dissatisfaction to a few Nagrivadis outside but
they pacified me saying “Don’t worry, proper justice will be done”. They were
very much careful of my aggressive posture while dealing with them on this topic
and the money matters we sent from Kuwait. So much so, one of them even told his
other Nagrivadis in KPA to avoid talking to me till he goes back to Kuwait. Moreover,
one junior politician came with his gang of a few youth to threaten me in the
reception of Keni Hotel and to silence my voice from exposing the names of the
recipients of Kuwait money. Incidentally, that “one politician” was also one of
the recipients of money from Kuwait.
That the KPA Nagrivadis will betray the Romivadis was a sure
fact but that the KPA Romivadis like “Baizona” will surrender to the chicanery of Nagrivadis was also a sure fact. Our so
called Romi stalwarts are “Ponch” Romivadis, they want Konkani only to promote
themselves in society, and they want Konkani only to keep themselves afloat in
public life in Goa. Our efforts from Kuwait for the cause of Konkani were much
higher because we worked for the cause and not to promote ourselves in public
life. And as a matter of fact we worked for Konkani cause in Kuwait with lot of
difficulties. It was not an easy task in
a foreign country where local laws and customs are totally different from our
country.
The very person who claimed to be the promoter of Romi Konkani
cause when he was elected to Goa Legislative Assembly of course unexpectedly he
did nothing to promote the cause of Romi Konkani till the end of his term in
GLA. When he was a member of GLA he was acting like a feudal lord not even
wishing some of his Konknnivadis but now “churchure tache” because even a
“Kuddo Mus” is not caring him in his locality. Now no Pilot Car and no other
government facilities for this reason his “Suberbai” is gone down. He belied our expectations by ignoring Romi
cause when he had vast influence as a member of GLA where he was holding an
important position. It is a pity that our people when they reach to the
position of power they fail in their duty by forgetting their past. This is the quality of “Ladru – Pedru” type of
Goans.
I don’t accept the version that there was a last minute
change in the terminology of the draft Konkani Bill where it was stated that “Konkani
means Nagri script Konknni”. This
statement “Konkani means Nagri script Konknni” was included much earlier and NOT
at the last minute and as such every KPA member had an access to this draft
bill to check. However, if Romivadi
members of KPA have failed to check this then they failed in their duty and
thus they betrayed the Romi segment of their trust. They are all to be treated as traitors and as
such they should be boycotted from campaigning and talking for Romi cause.
Moreover, the genuine Romivadis who are on forefront currently to fight for the
cause of Romi Konkani must call a public
meeting either in Margao or in Panjim to protest over the mishandling of this
issue. Posterity should know who betrayed the Romi Konkani otherwise posterity
will judge the history on this topic wrongly.
The Romivadi traitors who betrayed Romi Konkani should be
discarded from Romi circle otherwise they will discard Romi from Konkani
itself.
A.
Veronica
Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
