Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 22: In a bid to revive the nearly extinct Modi Marathi script and develop local expertise to interpret Goa's historical records, the Goa Archives Department has partnered with Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye Government College at Virnoda in Pernem to offer a free training programme for 69 participants.

The initiative aims to address the acute shortage of experts capable of reading the script, in which a large number of Goa's historical land, temple and village records are written. At present, many Goans rely on specialists from neighbouring Maharashtra to decipher such documents, often incurring significant costs.

The 30-hour, two-credit certificate course is being conducted by Pune-based Modi Marathi expert Girish Mandke. It is coordinated by Goa Archives Director Balaji Shenvi and Prof Rohit Phalgaonkar of the History Department at Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye Government College.

Prof Phalgaonkar said the programme seeks to generate interest among young learners and encourage more Goans to acquire advanced knowledge of the script before it disappears completely from the state.

He said the Modi Marathi script originated around the 17th century and was widely used in Goa for maintaining land, temple and village records until the 20th century, particularly in areas such as Canacona, Sanguem and Pernem, which were part of the later Portuguese conquests.

According to him, Goa currently has only a handful of people capable of reading the script. He also noted that the state has only about three experts who can decipher Portuguese calligraphy, while the last known expert in the ancient Goykanadi script has already passed away.

Phalgaonkar said Modi Marathi was once taught in elementary schools across Goa but gradually fell out of use. He explained that it is a cursive script written continuously without spaces between words and usually without lifting the pen, with its style evolving over centuries. He added that those who master the script could find promising professional opportunities due to the scarcity of trained experts.

The Goa Archives Department, established in 1595, is the oldest archives institution in the country. It preserves an extensive collection of historical records, including correspondence between the Marathas and the Portuguese written in Modi Marathi, much of which remains unexplored.

Of the 69 participants enrolled in the programme, 60 are students, six are local residents from Pernem and three are teachers. The course will conclude on Jul 30, and participants who maintain at least 75 per cent attendance and pass the examination will receive certificates.

A similar Modi Marathi course is also being conducted at Goa University and is scheduled to conclude on July 31.