The real push for the Konkani movement for its recognition started with the formation of “NOVEM GOEM” movement in late seventies when members of Novem Goem Pratishthan, a Trust formed to establish two Konkani Dailies in Goa, one Romi and the other Nagri, travelled on foot all over Goa to ask donation for this project. It took them about a month to complete this exercise. The freedom fighter and Konknnivadi, Gurunath Kelekar from Margao initiated this movement in co-operation with 7 prominent learned Trustees. Their target was to start a Romi Daily when collection of one lakh of rupees is achieved and Nagri Daily when 5 lakhs are achieved. The task of initiating this move of Novem Goem in Kuwait was given to me and we Kuwaitcars got together and collected about 5 lakhs which amount was sent to NGP Trust in Goa.
As in Goa, Kuwait too thru this movement, Goans joined together for the common goal and remained united by discarding all their minor differences. In this process the biggest achievement was the unity between Romi and Nagri proponents in particular and Goans in general. Though there are a few Nagri Konknnivadis in Kuwait yet it was nice to see them joining hands with the Romivadis in Kuwait and thus creating a strong bond between the two segments.
Then in the name of Konkani came the formation of KPA to give final push for the recognition of Konkani and thru this KPA the greatest achievement came was the establishment of strong unity between the Romi and Nagri camps for the common goal. It must be remembered that in the initial stages Nagrivadis in KPA pleaded with the Romivadis not to talk of the script at that point of time and at an appropriate time they will satisfy both the camps. Though ultimately Romivadis were betrayed when Nagri Konknni was imposed on Goa as an official language yet Romivadis did not forcefully revolt over this betrayal thus maintaining the bond unexploded between the two camps.
Now thru the latest imbroglio of MOI issue, not only the propagandists of anti-English education at primary level but even the anti-Romi Konknnivadis joined together to let lose their ire against Romivadis, Church and its schools. Equating Church with FORCE is wrong, FORCE movement is organized by an independent body not attached to the Church.
In the name of Konkani we came together but now regretfully in the name of English we are devided. It is a pity even after so many decades since English left from India, we are still under the bondage of English and this bondage will never leave from India. In this whole episode the rift between Romivadis and Nagrivadis is widened. Can anyone bridge this rift?
The very Nagrivadis with whom I associated to promote Konkani cause are acting like my enemies. The very Nagrivadis who along with me received Lathis on our back from Rane’s policemen are keeping a distance from me because I am from Romi camp, they wanted my association then to support Konkani movement from Kuwait for the benefit of Nagri Konkani only? No, for Romi too. Because of Konkani we joined together and because of Konkani we are devided now?
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.