MARGAO: Pushing for the cause of
Konkani, art and culture minister Govind
Gaude said the government would always support the growth of the language.
"If the Devanagri script is officially accepted, it doesn't mean the Roman script is not recognised. Our government will always support the growth of Konkani in the Roman script," he said during his keynote address at the annual Dalgado Awards ceremony, at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, recently.
Gaude also said the state's mother tongue has been kept alive by the Konkani people. "If the Konknniwadis irrespective of scripts work unitedly, Konkani will progress and prosper," he added.
The minister presented awards to six winners, including veteran writer and poet Jess Fernandes (Dalgado Literature Award), Premanand A Lotlikar (Dalgado Konknni Servive Award),
John Claro Fernandes (Dalgado Cultural Award), Lourence Fernandes (Joel D'Souza Heritage Award), Michael Gracias (Fr
Freddy J Da Costa
Journalism Award), and Victor Hugo
Gomes of 'Goa Chitra' (Dalgado Konknni Institution Award).
During his address, guest of honour Damodar Mauzo, spoke about the Konkani movement. "Konkani lovers need to unitedly face the challenges encountered by the language. Neither is the work for the promotion of Konkani over, nor is its future shining bright. This is precisely why we need to work together," he said.
President of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi, Tomazinho Cardozo, in his welcome speech, said if schools were given permission to teach Konkani in Roman script, several students would not have opted for English.
