Chikmagalur: National convention emphasizes need for Konkani in Liturgy

Media Release

Chikmagalur, Mar 13: The national convention on ‘Konkani in Liturgy’, convened by Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (Global Konkani Organization) in association with its affiliate, Catholic Konkani Rakann Sanchalan (Chikmagalur-Hassan) was held on Sunday March 10 at the Catholic Club, Chikmagalur and was attended by around 500 delegates from all over India.

The convention was necessitated by the denial of the right to Konkanis to pray and offer mass in their mother tongue, in many Catholic Dioceses around India, despite their considerable numbers; and the recurring attacks on the faithful, while exercising this right in recent times, spearheaded by an organization called ‘Akhila Karnataka Katholic Kannada Kraistara Sangha’ (All-Karnataka Catholic Kannada Christian Association), in the state of Karnataka.

At 10 am, the inaugural session commenced. Cyril Rebello, the honorary president of Catholic Konkani Rakann Sanchalan (CKRS), welcomed the dignitaries, the speakers, delegates from various states and the gathering. Pramod Pinto, president, CKRS, and Roy Castelino, the treasurer of Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (JKS) presented bouquets.

Vally Vagga (Valerian D’souza), Mysore, inaugurated the convention by ringing bells (bells used during mass, by altar boys). In his inaugural-keynote address he stated that these bells were the bells of awakening and the bells of warning.

He called upon Konkanis to shed their lethargy and come out strongly in defence of their mother tongue. He said, “Knock and it shall be opened unto you, seek and ye shall find.”

Roy Castelino wished the convention well and said that the time has come for Konkanis to implement the call given by the Vally Vagga, namely to seek and to knock.

Alwyn D’souza, ex vice-president of CKRS, compered the inaugural ceremony and requested   Eric (Baab) Ozario (secretary general – JKS) to moderate the proceedings of the Convention.

Dr Pratap Naik, a Jesuit priest of the Goa Province, a linguist and a leader of the Konkani movement, quoted extensively from Canon Law and the Declaration of the IInd Vatical Council, establishing beyond doubt the right of the faithful to conduct liturgical and para-liturgical services in the vernacular. “Vernacular’ clearly means ‘the language of the people’ and is certainly not the ‘official language’ or the ‘state language’ or the ‘national language,” he asserted.

Advocate Vinod Furtado, well-known lawyer from Mangalore, enlightened the Convention regarding the Constitutional rights of minorities in India – both linguistic and religious. He referred to the provisions of Articles 19, 25, 26, 29 and 30, of the Constitution of India and also cited many judgements to establish, beyond an iota of doubt, the right of Konkani Catholics to offer prayers in their mother tongue.

At this point, the Eric Ozario, read-out a letter written to him by Advocate Mahadev Deshak, a veteran lawyer from Mysore who has fought and won many legal battles on this issue and who, today, is considered the foremost expert on the subject, anywhere in India.

In his letter, he reiterates the rights of Catholics to conduct Liturgy in their mother tongue; rights, both under the laws of the land and of the Church. What thrilled the convention most was his offer to fight the cause of the Konkanis in the courts of law, “without any expectation in the service of Lord and Saviour Christ.”

Lawrence D’souza (‘Lavrinth’) eloquently presented the Chikmagalur situation. He traced the history of the tragic situation of the denial of the right to Liturgy in Konkani to Konkanis in the Chikmagalur Diocese, a Diocese overwhelmingly dominated by Konkanis. He declared that the Konkanis squarely blame the Bishop Alphonse Mathias (a Konkani himself) for this situation.

"It is he, who for some strange reasons best known only to him, discontinued Konkani masses and declared that liturgical and para-liturgical services in the Diocese would only be held in Kannada and ever since, the right to pray in their mother tongue has been denied to Konkanis. Only 4 parishes have managed to attain the right to Konkani masses (as a result of struggles, agitation and open confrontation), while in all other parishes, despite their huge numbers, Kannada liturgy is forced on them," he stated.

"Incidentally, this is the same Bishop, who later on became the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, and who is responsible for the present turmoil in Bangalore, because he introduced the 3-language policy in the Archdiocese, which gave no space to Konkani, the mother tongue of a considerable number of Catholics," he said. He concluded that the fight is far from over and urged the Konkanis of Chikmagalur to fight till the goal is achieved and called upon Konkanis around the world to support this fight with all their might.

The afternoon session began with the paper presented by Gabriel Vaz, a senior journalist and a leader of the Konkani community in Bangalore, on the ‘Bangalore situation’. He explained about the presence of the strong Konkani Catholic community in Bangalore, in some parishes, upto 40-50% and also narrated the number of incidents of attack on them by a small section of Kannada fanatics led by a group called ‘Akhila Karnataka Katholic Kannada Kraistara Sangha’.

He also said that the finger of suspicion points out to a handful of Kannada priests who have a hidden agenda in instigating such acts of hooliganism. He also said that Konkanis are being mobilized to counter such violent attacks and steps to seek protection under law as also legal remedies are being considered.

Ancy Paladka, a young Konkani poet and activist from the Diocese of Vasai, spoke on the ‘Situation in Maharashtra’ and lamented how despite their huge numbers, Konkanis are being cheated of their right to liturgy in Konkani, in the Diocese of Vasai, as also the Archdiocese of Mumbai. He called for strong action to make the authorities realize the folly of such a lopsided policy.

The ‘Goan Situation’ was narrated by Jose Salvadore Fernandes, secretary – Dalgado Konknni Akademi, Goa. He expressed great concern regarding the threat faced by the Goans’ love and zealousness for the English language, which is now threatening Konkani in liturgy. He said that if the same situation continued unchecked, Konkani in liturgy would soon be replaced by English. And if this happens, Konkani as a language would not survive in Goa.

The unique ‘Kerala Situation’ was placed before the Convention by Raju Ukkinadka, a Konkani writer from Maniyampare in the Kasaragod District. While talking about Konkani in liturgy being very much alive in the district of Kasaragod, he spoke of the danger to Konkani itself from unexpected quarters, namely Konkani men getting married to Malayali ladies.

If the percentage of marriages that took place last year is any indication, the situation is indeed alarming as the proportion is nearly 50%. Added to that, as a result of the government policy of compulsory Malayalam education, there is no hope that the future generation will read and write Konkani in the Kannada script, as they have been doing all along. The influence of the Malayalam language is visible among the youth and the children. He concluded that under these circumstances, not only Konkani in liturgy but Konkani itself is in grave danger.

The delegates actively participated in the discussion that followed each paper.

At the Convention – i) the emblem of Catholic Konkani Rakann Sanchalan, ii) the website of Catholic Konkani Rakann Sanchalan [http://www.chikmagalurkonkans.com] and iii) the Chikmagalur Unit of Catholic Konkani Rakann Sanchalan – were launched.

The Convention concluded by passing a Declaration that would act as a guiding force for the future course of action in obtaining our right to Konkani in liturgy.