Script Inquisition by Pratapananda Naik, S.J.

 

SCRIPT INQUISITION


Pratapananda Naik, S.J.

 



Kala Academy (KA) of Goa was established in February 1970 by the Government of Goa as an apex body “to develop Music, dance, Drama, Fine Art, Folk Art, Literature etc and thereby promote cultural unity of the State.” (Cf.  KA Website). In 1973-74 KA began to give Sahitya Puroskar (Literary Awards) with the objective, “To encourage and honour the Goan Konkani and Marathi writers for their creative literature.” (Cf. KA Website). In the beginning once in two years, awards were given for several books in three categories, selected from Konknni in Devanagari scripts (KD), Konknni in Roman scripts (KR) and Marathi. The following authors received award for their KR books. Dr. Manoharrai Sardessai (1973-74), Dr. R.V. Pandit(1973-74), Mr. Bonaventure D’Pietro (1975-76), Fr. Antonio Pereira (1975-76), Ms. Maria Almeida (1975-76), Fr. Antonio Pereira (1978-79), Dr. Manoharrai Sardessai (1978-79), Mr. Tomazinho Cardozo (1982-83), Mr. Alex Goes (1984-1985), Mr. Tomazinho Cardozo (1986-87), Fr. Moreno de Souza (1986-87), Mr. Bonaventure D’Pietro (1988-89).

 

From 1990 onwards due to the Machiavellian efforts of protagonists of KD, the KA stopped giving awards to KR books. The protagonists of KR made several requests to restart the award for KR books. Hence, Fr. Planton Faria was selected for the award of 2006. KD group objected to this and KA once again stopped the separate category for KR books. KD group worked out a conspiracy to block awards to KR books by clubbing together KR and KD books in a single category of Konknni. Since then not a single Konknni book in KR has been awarded the literary award of KA.

 

KR group continued its efforts. The present chairperson of KA heard the grievances and announced a separate category for KR books. Once agin, Goa Konkani Akademi (GKA) and KD group are vociferously opposing a separate category for KR books.

 

Why KR books should be given a separate category? The written tradition of Konknni began with the missionaries in sixteenth century through KR. This tradition still continues. The minority community uses KR for its religious, cultural and other domains. KR is widely used by the mass media. It is exclusively used in Tiatrs. 99% of Konknni CDs and DVDs available in the market are produced by KR group. By giving award to KR books KA is fulfilling its objectives and vision.

 

Prior to the liberation of Goa, Konknni meant KR only. KR and KD are not mere two different scripts but they represent two different dialects and cultures of Konknni. The present day KD in its written form is highly influenced by Marathi vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and orthography. Hence it is rightly labelled as a dialect of Marathi. KD smells more of Marathi than the flavour of Konknni and has innumerable errors. Hence instead of learning KD, learning of KR or any other language is far more beneficial to students. KD is rejected by the majority community. The majority community in Goa speaks Konknni but prefers to read and write in Marathi.

 

KD is nobody’s baby except a fistful of persons who use it to grab funds, awards, projects and occupy positions of power. In the name of Konknni and script they want to continue to their hegemony. KD is kept alive with the help of a ventilator by State and Central Governments’ funds. KD has divided the Goan society and has done linguistic harm beyond words by ‘divide and rule’ principle. Hence a section of the Goan society feels that KD is a parasite. KR which was the bhattkar (landlord) of Konknni, has been reduced to become a munddkar (tenant). KD which was a munddkar, now claims to be the real bhattkar! KR was the real heir of Konknni. KD which was a poskem (adopted child), now claims to be the real heir! KD group is practicing the fascist principle “unity in uniformity”! In the name of one script for Konknni, KD lobby has imposed linguistic and script inquisition and ethnic cleansing! In this sense KD lobby could be rightly called as linguistic terrorists. KD protagonists know that if KR is promoted then KD will die a natural death. KR group is not asking for alms or concession, but its rights and dignity. Ultimately, in future, besides English, KR and Marathi will continue to be the major written languages of Goa. In this background, the Official Language Act has to be changed for the benefit of all Goans. Those who have ears let them hear.

 

(Published in Navhind Times, Sunday 29 September 2013)

 

 

 

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