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Beating
up Konkani to show love for Konkani
Pravin
Sabnis
The
controversy over allowing the Konkani language to exist in the Romi and
Kannada scripts is turning ugly, due to unnecessary prejudices.
Prejudice No 1:
Roman script is alien
Surely this is a redundant attitude. Most Goans write in Romi-Konkani on
e-mails and SMSs. One may argue that the Devnagri script can be used
too, but for that it is necessary to know how to type it. In fact, how
can one insist that English should be a subject from Std I (the demand
was made by the Samta Andolan at Pedne Parishad) and then persist with
the claim that the Roman script is alien to young minds.
It is
pertinent to note that publications and periodicals in the Romi and the
Kannada script are written and read by many. The numbers prove that
public patronage exists for all the scripts. The Devnagri script too,
will flourish, but it does not have to be at the cost of the Romi-script
or the Kannada script.
Prejudice No 2:
Single Script strengthens
Language
The blockage of the Urdu script has left Hindi poorer. Even today, the
best of Hindi writing comes from people who know both the scripts –
Devnagri as well as Urdu. When we interact with Konkanis from Karnataka
or Kerala, our common language matters, not the accent, not the
vocabulary and definitely not the script.
Konkani has survived all odds over the years along the entire Konkan
belt, due to the plurality of dialect, accent and script. Last year, a
Konkani Yakshagaan performed in the Kala Academy, with the background
banner written in the Kannada script. Discrimination against script will
only create divisions and diversions in the Konkani movement.
Prejudice No 3:
Western culture will dominate
This prejudice falls flat in regards to the Kannada script. Regarding
the others, it is observed that the aping of western culture is not
restricted to any one script, community or language. And most
importantly "culture" is not really eastern or western, northern or
southern... it is reflected in the values of democracy, equality,
freedom, empathy and humanism.
Yes our
ethnic identity is reinforced with the consolidation of our language,
but to insist that the Devnagri script should be thrust upon people will
have its dangerous implications.
Forceful
impositions will lead to resistance and even revolt. To “promote” the
Devnagri script, one does not have to “demote” the Romi or Kannada
scripts.
Prejudice No 4:
All opposition is anti-Konkani
In supporters of the Romi-script are even described as anti-national.
Our language is one of colourful plurality and it is unfair to view it
through a blinkered “black-or-white” perspective. A few hotheaded, nasty
arguments needed not be the basis to decide that supporters of any one
script are opposing the other. Such chauvinism is best left to the
Konkani speaking Goan who insists that Konkani is a dialect.
Nationalism and national pride are not slaves to any single language or
script. They go beyond, to first recognizing and then accepting, both,
our strengths as well as our weaknesses. Attacking the plural diversity
will wreck all possible unity!
Prejudice No 5:
It reinforces arguments of
Konkani bashers
Two Mandovi bridges have fallen down, been rebuilt and an entire
landscape has changed, since the official and public recognition of
Konkani as a language of the Konkani people. The use of written Konkani
has increased in leaps and bounds. Literature, theatre, Documentation
and development is taking place in all the major scripts.
This controversy is less to do with language and more to do with
economics that come with the official recognition of the script. The
proponents of Kannada and Romi scripts want their dutiful share of the
Sahitya Academy and other awards and rewards. Some in the Devnagri camp
do not want to let go of the monopoly.
May all Konkani people disregard the divisive arguments and allow
Konkani to flourish in all scripts by patronizing the distinct and
unique plurality of our language. May the sloganeering recede and may
the pen and the ghumat be brought to the fore!
Pravin Sabnis
July 14, 2006
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