Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA) - Praveen Tauro Kulshekar

Mangalore, Apr 28: Speaking to members of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan here Saturday April 28 Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza has urged the heads of schools to teach Konkani only in Kannada script.

"Out mother tongue Konkani has made its way into schools. It is indeed a proud achievement.  So far Konkani was only at home.  But hereafter it will be systematically taught in schools which indeed is good news to all Konkani buffs.  I hereby request our school heads to teach Konkani as optional language from this scholastic year.  Parents should encourage their children to take up Konkani from VI standard," he urged.

Though the government had given permission to start Konkani in schools, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan had met Bishop to launch a movement so that parents, children and even heads of schools take interest to introduce and learn Konkani.

Bishop wished all the best to the efforts of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and gave a clarion call to all Konkani buffs to come forward to teach Konkani.  Brushing aside any controversies regarding the script, he said that Konkani must be taught only in Kannada script in the schools and not in Devnagari script.  "We learnt in Kannada script and not in Devnagari and our children too must learn in the same as they are familiar with it," he said.

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario, member Vitori Karkala, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan president Roy Castelino, secretary Dr Edward Nazareth, Louis Pinto, Stany Alvares, Stephen Quadros, Canute Kelrai and Praveen Tauro were present on the occasion.