Panjim: Better treatment to Konkani in Roman Script demanded

Media Release

Panjim, 26 November 2011: Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (JKS) – Global Konkani Organization – is an organization formed to promote unity among all Konkani people scattered in different regions of India and in different parts of the world by respecting all scripts and dialects of Konkani language.

 

The 1st Regional Conference on ‘Future of Konkani Language’ was held on 20th November 2011 at the Conference Hall of Tiatr Academy Goa, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panjim. 3 papers were read and thoroughly discussed. The 1st paper was on ‘Status and future of Konkani language in Goa’ in which Shri Vincy Quadro, Vice President of Goan Konknni Akademi brought before the delegates the existing scenario of Konkani in Goa. Fr. Pratap Naik, Director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, chaired the session.

 

The 2nd paper was on ‘Scripts of Konkani language – Issues and solutions’ which was read by Shri. Eric Ozario, Gurkar, Kalangann Mangalore. The session was chaired by Shri. Premanand Lotlikar, President of Dalgado Konknni Akademi.

 

The 3rd paper ‘The status of Konkani at national and international level’ was handled by Shri. Tomazinho Cardozo, President of Tiatr Academy Goa and the session was chaired by Shri. Yusuf Sheik, a prominent Konkani poet.

 

 

After every session an interaction between the participants and the paper readers was conducted through which numerous suggestions came to the fore in order to preserve Konkani language.

 

Some important resolutions taken during the Conference are:-

1. Sahitya Akademi New Delhi, must give Annual Literary Awards for books in all scripts of Konkani and not in any one particular script.
2. Kala Academy must have a separate category for selecting books for Literary Awards in Konkani in Roman script.
3. Government of Goa must give option to teach Konkani in Roman Script in the educational institutions.
4. Government should amend the Official Language Act to give equal status to Konkani in Roman Script.

 

Earlier the Conference was inaugurated by veteran Konkani literary figure Rev. Fr. Vasco Rego, who advocated to make use of Konkani in our day to day life including in numerous functions and occasions in our society.