Facts Related to Konknni Language in Goa by Pratapananda Naik, S.J.

 

FACTS RELATED TO KONKNNI LANGUAGE IN GOA

Pratapananda Naik, S.J.

 

Observations and comments:

When Sahitya Akademi gave recognition to Konknni there was no mention of its official script in the minutes. Excerpts from meeting of the General Council of  the Sahitya Akademi held on 26 February 1975 reads as "As Konknni fulfils the criteria formulated by the Akademi for recognition of a language, it is recognized as an independent modern literary language of India. "With regard to programmes in Konknni like the annual award, publications, constitution and meetings of the Advisory Board, etc., involving expenditure, Sahitya Akademi should request the Government of India to provide the necessary extra funds.  Such programmes and other activities should be undertaken only when extra funds are available."

 

When Konknni was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India there was no mention of its official script.  The Constitution (Seventy-first amendment) Act, 1992 reads as: An Act further to amend the Constitution of India. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-third Year of the republic of India as follows: - Short title.-this Act may be called the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992.  Amendment of eighth schedule. - In the Eighth schedule to the Constitution,-

existing entry 7 shall be re-numbered as entry 8, and before entry 8 as so re-numbered, the entry "7. Konknni." shall be inserted.

From this one could conclude that the official script of Konknni for all Konknnis (Konknni speakers) is not yet officially decided.

 

Catholics are in forefront to run 126 Konknni medium primary schools.  They run these schools not for the love of Konknni or for any pedagogical reasons but to obtain grants from the Govt.  If it was for these reasons they would have run Konknni medium primary schools prior to 1990.  The Hindu Management runs only 6 Konknni medium primary schools.  A known educationist, Devanagari proponent and Sahitya Akademi prize winner for Konknni runs a Marathi medium primary school in Mapuca.  Hindu managements and Goa Govt. promote Marathi medium primary schools in Goa.  Devanagari proponents are silent about this.  Why?  Why they insist that only Catholics should run their schools in Konknni medium and Devanagari script?  When Marathi was given a place in the Official language Act 1987, these Devanagari proponents did not object to the Language Act.  The reason is crystal clear to those who have eyes to see. It is because they wanted to grab jobs both for Konknni and Marathi and deny the same for the minority community.

 

Konknni and Marathi medium schools are decreasing every year.  While English medium schools are increasing.  As on 30.9.2004 data there are 81 English medium primary schools. As on 30.9.2004 data there are 26 Urdu, 16 Kannada, 4 Hindi, 1 Telugu and 1 Malayalam medium Primary schools are found in Goa.

 

Though Konknni is the State Language of Goa in the entire State there is not a single Konknni medium high school. As on 30.9.2004 data there are 15 Marathi, 6 Kannada and 5 Urdu medium High Schools are found in Goa.   This is a clear indication that people of Goa do not want Konknni as the medium of instruction.

 

Though Konknni is the official language of Goa, it is not a compulsory language in schools!  One can complete his/her entire education in Goa without learning Konknni! In our neighbouring states one cannot complete X Std. without learning the State language.

 

At the X std number of students who opt for Konknni as the third language have not crossed 40% of total number of students who appear for X std. examination. At the XII Std numbers of students who opt for Konknni as the second language have not crossed 35% of total number of students who appear for XII std. Examination. Though the break-up of students who opt for Konknni at X Std. And XII std is not available on the basis of religion, from the reliable official sources we have been told that majority of these students are Catholics. 

 

Catholic schools offer Konknni as a third language in all their High schools.  Out of the 80 government high schools only 16 (20%) offer Konknni. 50% of schools run by the majority community do not offer Konknni as a third language. Thus students have no other option but to opt for Marathi. 

 

Though official figures are not published, yet it is a known fact that students who opt Konknni as a major subject for third year BA or MA are mainly from Bahujan Samaj community and Catholic community. Since 1998 Goa University has made a norm.  According to which a maximum of 25 students could be admitted for MA (Konknni) first year.   Those who opt for Konknni are mainly girls.  These students have hardly any opportunity to get jobs.  Due to this bright students prefer to opt for other subjects.

 

In Karnataka Konknni is not included in the school curriculum. The Karnataka Konknni Sahitya Academy (an autonomous govt. institution) took the initiative to introduce Konknni in schools from Std.VI from June 2006. The problem arose in which Konknni should be taught in Karnataka. The academy consulted students, teachers, parents and 121 Konknni institutions. And after prolonged debate, through democratic process took the opinion poll. 65.7% opted for Kannada script, 28.9% opted for Devanagari and 2.9% preferred Roman script for Konknni in schools. Based on people's verdict on May 30, 2005, the General Body of the academy met and declared that Kannada script will be used in teaching Konknni in schools in Karnataka. The academy has prepared the textbook.  Majority of the schools where Konknni is likely to be implemented are run by the Catholics.  Therefore the textbook has used the Catholic dialect which is used in Churches and mass media.  This dialect is very close to Goa Christian Bardeshi dialect.  The academy has submitted to the Govt the VI Std. textbook for approval.  Since the govt. has not taken any decision, Karnatka Konknni Sahitya Academy has started a process to train teachers to teach Konknni outside the school curriculum.  In Goa why such a democratic procedure cannot be followed to decide the script and the dialect to be used in schools?

 

Though it is claimed by Devanagari proponents that in Kerala Konknni is taught in schools using Devanagari script, in reality it is not true.  The Kerala Govt. has approved of teaching of Konknni in Kerala, but in reality Konknni is not taught because there are no students. 

 

From Kerala not a single Konknni periodical is published.  In reality in Kerala Konknnis (Konknni speakers) exist but Konknni continues to be mainly the spoken language and it is hardly used for written purpose.

 

Konknni books in Kannada script and Roman script are still popular and have the readership.  Konknni books in Devanagari script are distributed or sold to various libraries and institutions under various Govt. schemes.

 

Among Konknni periodicals, Kannada script has the highest number of periodicals. It has 5 weeklies, 1 fortnightly and 12 monthlies.  Devanagari script has 3 monthlies but no weekly or fortnightly.  One of this monthly is published by Catholics of Belgaum.  Roman script periodicals are published exclusively by the Catholic community.  Among Kannada script periodicals 17 are published by the Catholic community and 2 by the Hindu community.  In Kannada script and Roman script there are Parish bulletins run by Catholics. In size and quality they are as good as regular journals.  Perso-Arabic script periodicals are published by Konknni speaking Navayat Muslim community of Bhatkal, Karnataka.

Most of the Roman script and Kannada script Konknni periodicals are found with newspaper vendors.   Except the daily not a single Konknni periodical in Devanagari script is found with newspaper vendors.  Since there is only one daily in Konknni in Devanagari script, it should have had at least a circulation of 25,000.  Its circulation is less than four figures.

 

In Goa literate Hindus (practically 100%) know Devanagari script. Yet the vast majority of them prefer to read and write Marathi and not Konknni.  10 Marathi dailies are sold in Goa.  While the single Konknni daily in Goa struggles for its survival.  While Catholics who read Konknni prefer to read it in Roman script.

 

In the market Konknni audiocassettes and compact discs of music (devotional and other popular songs) are found in great numbers.  The Catholic community of Goa and Karnataka produces 99% of these audiocassettes.  Hindus still continue to use Marathi audiocassettes for religious domain and Marathi and Hindi cassettes for cultural domain.

 

Konknni in Devanagari script is kept alive mainly due to State and Central Governments grants and support.  It does not enjoy people's support.  If the Govt. stops or withdraws support to it, what happens to Konknni in Devanagari script?   This is a serious topic for discussion and reflection.  Some say that it will die a natural death.

 

The claim that there are over 50 lakhs of Konknnis (Konknni speakers) is far from the truth.  Konknni population according to 2001 Census is not yet available.   It will not be more than 20 lakhs. Though State Language of Goa is Konknni, according to 1991 Census data the majority of the Konknni speakers (63.11%) reside outside Goa.  Goa has only 36.89% of total Konknnis.  In other major states most of the native language speakers reside in their respective state. For example most of the Tamil speakers are found in Tamil Nadu. Highest numbers of Konknnis are in Karnataka.

 

Since the inception of Karnataka Konknni Sahitya Academy in 1994 by the Karnataka Government, Kannada script for Konknni in Karnataka has acquired the official status.  Due to this at present Devanagari and Kannada scripts are the official scripts for Konknni in Goa and Karnataka respectively.  However Roman script will continue in Goa and outside Goa on popular demand.

 

The recognition to Konknni by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi; Language Act of Goa State; the inclusion of Konknni in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution has not helped either to unite the Konknnis or to provide job opportunities to those who do BA or MA in Konknni.

 

Since 1987 Konknni in Devanagari script has not united the entire Hindu community.  It has not united the majority and minority communities.  It has failed to unite Goans in the educational, journalism, mass media, social and cultural fields.  Spoken Konknni alone is the uniting factor in Goa.  When it comes to written form English, Marathi and Konknni in Roman script dominate the scene and they have a bright future. Konknni has survived because it is a vibrant spoken language. "One script, one dialect" principle has not succeeded so far to unite Konknnis. If we insist this principle Konknnis will survive but Konknni might perish.  The solution lies in amending the Official Language Act 1987.  Otherwise language and script controversy is bound to continue and create further division and communal tension in Goa.