from Seby Fernandes
for Daijiworld Media Network – Mysore (SM)

Mysore, Oct 2: A two-day seminar on “Translating the History into Literature”, was organized by National Book Trust of India, in collaboration with Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore in Central Institute of Indian Languages here on Friday September 28 and Saturday September 29.

Speaking on the occasion, award winning Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo said that the history of Goa should be translated in other Indian languages, so that the present misconception of Goa can be cleared. All over India, people think that Goa is still a part of Portugal and not of India. People think that Goans are anti-nationals and do not form a part of Indian Union.

The seminar was inaugurated by Nuzhat Hassan, director, National Book Trust (India) and Keshav Desi Raju. Prof Udaya Narayan Singh, director, CIIL, chaired the function. Dr Jennifer Bayer compered the function.

"Goans are always targeted as anti-nationals and treated as colonial people. Even our mother tongue ‘Konkani’ also gets the same treatment. But we Goans have proved our patriotism towards our mother land India. No doubt we were under the Portuguese rule for many years. It is the only state or the people in the world who were under the foreign rule for such a long time. The foreigners impact has changed our life styles, our tradition and even our religion, but that does not mean that we are not Indians. Everyone has the view that all Goans are Christians, but this is 100 % wrong. Only 20% of Goan population is Christian," he added.

Many noted Indian writers and linguists participated in the two-day national seminar.