Report from Michael Jude Gracias
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)

Panaji, Oct 16: It was an afternoon of joy, as Konkani lovers from all walks of life and the entire Konkan region, converged at the Municipal Hall in Margao, to celebrate the second anniversary of JIVIT, the Niz Gõykaranchem rongit mhoinnalem, published by Queeny Productions and Publications.

The aam admi chief Minister Digambar Kamat was the chief guest. Deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho, the champion of Roman Script in the Legislative Assembly, was the guest of honour. PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who was the other guest of honour, could not attend the function but was represented by his daughter, Valanka Alemao. Eric Ozario, who etched out a place for Konkani language in the Guiness Book of World Records, was the special invitee.

At the function, six Konkani books, published by Queeny Productions and Publications, in the Roman script, Mon Sanvrona (Short Stories)  by Willy Goes, Rupddem (Short Stories) by Peter Peixoto, Bhokti Sobhann ( spiritual poetry) by Fr Pratap Naik sj, Ho Sonvsar ek Machi ( One-act plays) by Fr Nevel L S Gracias, Devache Bagint (poetry ) by Bitosa Fernandes and Tuji Vatt (poetry) by Agusta Fernandes, were released by the cief minister.

Seven personalities were felicitated, for their outstanding contribution to the language: senior Tiatrist John Gomes (Kokoy) was felicitated with the ‘Lucasinho Ribeiro memorial felicitation 2008' and Joao Inacio D’Souza with the Reginaldo Fernandes memorial felicitation 2008', for his contribution to Konkani novels. Mumbai-based Isidore Dantas was felicitated with the 'Al-Jerry Braganza memorial felicitation 2008' for his research in the field of Konkani cinema. Zito Almeida (posthumously) was conferred with the 'Fr Freddy J Da Costa memorial felicitation 2008', for his contribution to journalism, Fr Pratap Naik sj, with the Bruno Eduardo memorial felicitation 2008, for his contribution to literature, Eric Ozario with the  Mons S R Dalgado memorial ‘Niz Konknni Mogi’ felicitation 2008', for promotion of the language and Marcos Gonsalves, with the 'Fr Antonio Pereira memorial felicitation 2008'.

Seven JIVIT awards were also presented to its contributors.  Selza Lopes, Cyrilo Fernandes and Lino Dourado, were awarded the JIVIT Puroskar 2008. Albino Fernandes was awarded the late A R Souzaferrao memorial award 2008, Neville Alphonso was awarded the late Luzia and Mousinho D’Silva memorial award 2008, Konkani Lecturer Jasmine Rodrigues was awarded the late Eslinda and Braz Alemao memorial Konknni Seva Puroskar 2008, while Peter Peixoto was awarded the late Santana and Tomas Alcasoas memorial award 2008, for his excellance in Konkani writing.

In his speech, CM Digamber Kamat congratulated Agnelo Alcasoas, Michael Gracias and Vincy Quadros on the second anniversary of JIVIT magazine and stated, that Language should unite the people and humanity. "I know the needs of those who write Konkani in the Roman script and will see that justice is done. My government has already directed that all support be given to publication of books in Roman script as in Devanagri script and to give awards likewise," he said. He informed, that his government had over-ruled the objections of the finance department and made a budgetary provision of Rs.15 lac for Dalgado Konkani Akademi this year. Soon the Tiatr Akademi will take shape, he said, adding that development, whether in health or education, must reach even the rural people in distant villages and not just in towns of Panaji, Margao, Mapusa or Vasco. Sharing the dais were the guest of honour, Eric Ozario of Mandd Sobann, the deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho, former Speaker Tomazinho Cardoz and Valanka Alemao representing her father, Churchill.

Eric Ozario recalled, that his mentor, the inimitable  Chafra, had spent his entire life publishing JIVIT and said Michael Gracias had done well to keep that name alive. As is his habit, Ozario was straight to the point in his brief but clear speech. "I have just three issues to place before the chief minister of Goa and all the people in this state," he said and proceeded to speak of the co-existence of scripts, inclusiveness of Konkani and the pitfalls of fascism and chauvinism.
Elaborating on the above issues, he informed that there was no script controversy for Konkani in Karnataka, adding, hat the state government has accepted both Kannada and Devanagri script for the promotion of Konkani education in schools. The same Konkani teacher can teach in either script and the students have a choice of scripts. Goa government should give the students an option to write in Roman script, he suggested to the CM. Konkani will grow when the option of script is available, he felt.

The second point that Ozario made, was to bust the myth that Konkani is the language of only the two communities, the Catholics and the Hindu GSB community. In Karnataka, we have identified not two but 22 Konkani-speaking communities including the Kharvi, Kudbi, Gavddi communities and even Muslims. "This year, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi president is from the Kharvi community, breaking the long tradition of alternating between Christian and GSB communities. Goa has an opportunity to make a similar affirmative change. Let the next president of the GKA be from those who write in the Roman script  he suggested.

The third point he made, was about the fascist roots of the slogan ‘Ek Bhasha, Ek Lipi, Ek Sahitya, Ek Samaj’ of the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishat, dominated by just four Basha Mandals. They have only stopped short of saying ˜Ek Dharm’ also, he emphasized. The glory of Konkani is in its diversity, in the variety of its scripts and dialects. Let us create a world leadership for Konkani, based on this diversity that will build our unity, he exhorted.

In his address, deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho assured the gathering, that the present government had taken note of the injustice done to the Roman script and added, that the govenrmant  would leave no stone unturned to provide justice to the writers of Roman script. “I believe in getting the job done, not just plain rhetorics," he said.

Earlier, Valanka Alemao assured all help and patronage to the magazine JIVIT and for the promotion of Roman script.

The publisher Michael Gracias welcomed the gathering, and editor Vincy Quadros proposed vote of thanks. The programme was well compered by school student Lara Gracias and Tarkeshwar Naik.