Mangalore: 'Konkani Vs English Liturgy' - A Misunderstood Concept?
Media Release
In response to the public opinion published under the article, 'Konkani Activists Seek Ban on 'English in Liturgy' in Mangalore Diocese' on daijiworld.com last week, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan, headed by Roy Castelino wants to clarify the subject in the following manner:
TO PRESERVE A COMMUNITY,
ONE MUST PRESERVE ITS CULTURAL IDENTITY
When a language dies, a culture dies.
And when a culture dies, a community dies with it.
Konkani being a linguistic minority language, our intention is to awaken the community to the perils of falling into a depth virtually leading to annihilation.
In the din and barrage of the accusations (most of them unfortunately personal) clogging the internet the real issue of ‘the relationship between language, culture, religion, identity and community’ is being stifled. While many can be forgiven for not keeping themselves informed, the attempt by a few to interpret a purely cultural issue as a religious one and in the name of religion, hurt in the long run one’s own language, culture and community, is most tragic.
We address this to the sensible and the responsible.
Every community today is being bombarded by the onslaught of globalisation. Westernisation is threatening all cultures and the English language indirectly is causing the extinction of many languages. The Mangalorean-Konkani-Catholic-Community (like all other regional communities) is also a victim of this juggernaut. The war is on, whether we like it or not. The only way to survive and emerge winners is –
(i) not by surrendering ourselves, but by riding on it and harnessing its advantages,
(ii) not by becoming the slaves of the English language but by mastering the same,
(iii) not by being uprooted by the flood of globalization, but by being rooted in one’s culture and identity - while at the same time living in harmony with other languages and cultures. Those who argue for total surrender in the name of survival, argue not only to divide our community, but to destroy it.
Konkani Prachar Sanchalan proposes to awaken our people to the above mentioned realities in a bid to save our language, culture and community from extinction.
The IInd Vatican Council decreed that liturgy be in the vernacular and as a result, Konkani was naturally introduced as the language of liturgy in the Diocese of Mangalore. Though Konkani was not taught in schools then, because ‘dotorn’ was being taught in Konkani, all of us learnt to read and write Konkani. We as a community, prayed together, stayed together. Konkani was never a threat to our unity, on the other hand, Konkani was, and certainly is, a symbol of our unity and identity.
As our love for English grew, we began to attribute ‘prestige’ to it and our sense of pride (‘swabhimaan’) towards our own language and culture was replaced by a sense of shame. As a result, instead of speaking to our children in our mother tongue Konkani, many of us (specially the affluent and the neo-rich) sought to enhance our status by speaking to them in English. The argument that – ‘because our children study in English medium schools it is but natural that they speak English at home’ – does not hold water, because, when most of us studied in Kannada medium schools none of us ever dreamt of bringing Kannada into our homes.
And then the same sense of ‘false prestige’ influenced the church authorities to introduce catechism in the place of ‘dotorn’ and in a stroke, dealt a death–blow to the future of Konkani and Konkani Literature by ensuring that our children would no longer be able to speak, read nor write Konkani. With the introduction of English masses (in some churches of Mangalore city), the final death knell of the unity and identity of our community was rung. The community that so far prayed together, was mercilessly divided into 2 – the English / and the Konkani Christians, the ‘fashionable’/ and the ‘traditionalists’, the ‘progressive’/ and the ‘retrogrades’, the ‘haves’/ and the ‘have-nots’. Konkani always united us and English has now divided us.
Having tasted victory in capturing many a Konkani territory, the English protagonists have launched and all-out offensive to destroy the unity and identity of our community. The church which has always taken pride in the fact that it has been the chief promoter and protector of the Konkani language, but which has, under pressure, passively tolerated the English language invasion, can no longer allow things to deteriorate further, because, the unity and the very identity of our community is at stake.
The leaders of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan, who have proved, time and again, their commitment to the social, religious, cultural, economic and political welfare of our community, and have provided active and effective leadership whenever the community was under threat (from within or form without); with the same sense of responsibility approached the Bishop of Mangalore -
(i) to acquaint him with the gravity of the threat to our unity caused by the intrusion of English in our liturgy,
(ii) to request him for remedial action,
(iii) to assure him of our support,
(iv) to apprise him regarding the ‘Konkani Awareness Week campaign’ (Dec. 7 to 14) Prachar Sanchalan was conducting and also,
(v) to invite him to inaugurate the ‘Konakni-in-Liturgy Samavesh’ on December 14.
His Lordship re-affirmed his and the church’s support for Konkani. Assured us that the church will not allow Konkani to be replaced by any other language in liturgy. Complimented us for awakening our people regarding the danger to our unity and identity. Wished the ‘Samavesh’ well, and expressed his inability to inaugurate the same due to prior commitments. During the ‘Konkani Zagvonne Hafto’, letters were sent to all priests of the diocese. Nearly 80 parishes were personally visited. 20,000 handbills were distributed and a sincere attempt to awaken our community was made. While doing all this great care was taken to see that the matter does not go outside the community.
The ‘Samavesh’ was inaugurated by Msgr. Alexander D’souza (former Vicar General). Rev. Dr. Pratap Naik (a linguist and a Jesuit priest) delivered the key note address. Every one was allowed to express opinions freely. Based on the discussions, the following resolutions were passed -
Considering the division and the confusion created with the introduction of English catechism and masses, so that the situation may not be allowed to deteriorate, we request the Lord Bishop to evolve a clear-cut Language Policy, in consultation with Konkani Organisations such as Konkani Prachar Sanchalan. Until such time that the Official Language Policy of the diocese is evolved and announced, status quo to be maintained.
While evolving the Official Language Policy, this gathering appeals to the Lord Bishop to consider –
(i) only Konkani as the official language,
(ii) catechism only in Konkani,
(iii) existing English masses to be shifted to non-prime time and gradually discontinued.
This Gathering appeals to all Konkani catholics to preserve Konkani - at home, in liturgy and at social gatherings, and to encourage children to learn Konkani in schools as a third language. This gathering also appeals to all people to preserve the unity of our community, at any cost.
After the ‘Samavesh’, the issue will be pursued with vigour, zeal, enthusiasm and earnestness and with a great sense of responsibility. As the issue is delicate and can easily be misinterpreted, great care will be taken to see that inimical forces are not allowed to take advantage and cause harm to our community.
The unity and the identity of our community will never be compromised and we shall do whatever is humanly possible to preserve it.
The leadership of Konakni Prachar Sanchalan is in the hands of those same people –
(i) who were responsible for elevating our language to a higher plane by introducing Konkani in the school curriculum in Karnataka,
(ii) who awakened our community to their political responsibility by spearheading the ‘Cast-Your-Vote Andolan’;
(iii) who risked their lives and personal safety while leading the community in its reaction to the attacks on our places of worship,
(iv) who hoisted the Konkani flag over the globe by including Konkani in the Guinness Book of World Records,
(v) who have always been the first to respond to every genuine need of our community,
(vi) who are all achievers, very successful in their own professions, and
(vii) who have contributed qualitatively to the development of our society.
They are the proven, accepted leaders of our society. Anyone –
(i) who tries to label them as ‘irresponsible’,
(ii) ridicules them as ‘good-for-nothing’ people who have nothing better to do,
(iii) baptizes them as ‘language fanatics’,
(iv) condemns them as ‘anti-community’,
(v) damns them as ‘dividers of our society’,
(vi) belittles them as ‘regressive’, and
(vii) challenges their ability to achieve the goals they have set-out to achieve, – is totally not in touch with reality and needs to introspect.
We reaffirm that we are definitely not against English or any other language for that matter. We certainly understand the need for our people to learn English to be successful in this modern world. However, we feel responsible not to allow our community to be a cultureless, self-respectless society which seeks ‘false pride’ in blindly imitating the west, its language and culture. We pledge to do everything in our power to preserve Konkani language and culture, and in doing so, shall preserve the unity, integrity and identity of our community.
WE HAVE MET THE LORD BISHOP ON FRIDAY, DEC 19, 2008, AND HAVE PRESENTED TO HIM THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE ‘SAMAVESH’.
Long live Konkani. Long live our identity. Long live our community
Konkani Prachar Sanchalan
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