news and pics by Sanjay Borkar
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)
Panaji, Jul 15: Goa Commissioner for NRI Affairs Eduardo Faleiro on Monday July 14, expressed his strong belief, that Konkani writers in Roman script should have access to all facilities including awards of the Sahitya Akadami, representation in literary bodies, financial assistance etc, at par with the writers using the Devnagari script.
Faleiro was speaking after releasing "Goykar-The Goan Identity", a Konkani monthly illustrated magazine edited by Tomazinho Cardozo at Secretariat, Porvorim.
Roman script issue was debated upon in detail and hogged the limelight during the last assembly electioneering. Some of the politicians had promised the people of providing equal status to Roman script on par with Devnagari script. After the elections however, the issue was forgotten. Faleiro who raked up the issue now, has stressed upon the point that the Roman script should get its long overdue status and facilities at least now.
He complimented Cardozo for publishing this new Konkani magazine in Romi script. He hailed Cardozo, a former speaker of Goa legislative assembly, to be an eminent writer in both Konkani and English and praised him as a Goan of great achievement in different fields of art and culture.
Despite various impediments faced, newspapers and magazines in Romi Konkani have wide readership across Goa, he noted, and extended his best wishes to the magazine.
President of Goa Konkani Akademi Pundalik Narayan Naik, complimented Cardozo for his fine effort. Wishing the new magazine all the success, Naik pointed out that Konkani Akadami has been extending all the facilities to the writers in the Konkani Romi script on par with writers in the Devnagri script.
President of the Dalgado Konkani Akademi Premanand Lotliker expressed happiness over the publication of a new magazine and felt that the language is in great need of not only readers but also good writers, to take the language to greater heights.
Prabhakar Tendulkar who edited a weekly named "Goykar" in 1979 and which played a stellar role in creating awareness among the Konkani masses during the Konkani agitation, was the guest of honour. He also expressed his views on the occasion.
Tomazinho Cardozo in his opening remarks, explained the circumstances under which a need was felt for such a magazine and sought support of the Konkani community in his task. Irene Cardozo earlier welcomed the gathering while Bonaventure D'Pietro proposed vote of thanks. Mathias Mascarenhas compered the function.
Vice President of Goa Konkani Akademi, Dr Tanaji Halarnkar, Editor of Konkanicho Divo and former Station Director Doordarshan Yusuf A Shaikh, Fore station Director of Doordrashan Pandarinath Lotlikar, Minguel Braganza, Afonso Braganza, Fr Concessao Silva and others were present on the occasion.